Combined UK and Ireland 'vanity project' bid to host the 2030 World Cup is SCRAPPED, as organisers turn their attentions to Euro 2028 instead - with competition from Turkey and Romania, Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria

 The UK and Ireland will not bid to stage the 2030 World Cup and will focus on a bid for Euro 2028 instead.

The five national associations have concluded that the continental finals represents a better option than the global centenary tournament after conducting a feasibility study, which was backed by Government money.A statement from the associations read: 'Following an extensive feasibility study, which assessed the potential opportunities in international football, the football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have agreed to focus on a bid to host Euro 2028, the third largest sports event in the world.

The Football Association will be part of a UK and Republic of Ireland bid to host Euro 2028

This five-nation bid includes Scotland - who are currently enjoying a resurgence on the pitch

'The feasibility study included an analysis of the economic impact, the political football landscape and likely costs of hosting major international tournaments.'On balance, the five associations have decided to focus solely on an official bid to host Euro 2028 and have agreed not to bid for the 2030 World Cup.

'Hosting a Euro offers a similar return on investment, with the European tournament carrying a far lower delivery cost and the potential of the benefits being realised sooner.

'It would be an honour and a privilege to collectively host Euro 2028 and to welcome all of Europe. It would also be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the true impact of hosting a world-class football tournament by driving positive change and leaving a lasting legacy across our communities.

'We believe the UK and the Republic of Ireland can offer UEFA and European football something special in 2028 - a compact and unique five-way hosting collaboration that will provide a great experience for the teams and the fans.

'We continue to collaborate with our Government partners of the UK and Ireland about the next steps.' 

The Aviva Stadium, Dublin is set to be one of the locations for Euro 2028 - if the bid is selected

The World Cup bid had been criticised as an 'expensive vanity project' by Julian Knight, the Conservative MP who chairs the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, after the failed solo attempts by England to stage the 2006 and 2018 World Cups.

The chaos which marred Wembley's hosting of the Euro 2020 final last summer does not appear to have turned UEFA against staging big events at the London venue - with the inaugural 'Finalissima' match between European champions Italy and South American champions Argentina taking place there in June.

A damning report into the violence at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley on July 11 was published in December, and concluded that 2,000 ticketless fans had stormed the stadium, creating a volatile environment where people could have been killed. 

Dame Louise Casey's review found that there was a 'perfect storm of lawlessness' at Wembley, where 'a horde of 6,000 or more ticketless fans, many of whom were no more than mindless thugs' ruined the most important day in English football since the 1966 World Cup final.

The report said that the authorities had been utterly unprepared for the enormity of the occasion and potential for unrest, especially given the only recent relaxation in Covid restrictions.

'Shocking and unprecedented levels of criminal and anti-social behaviour were evident from very early in the day, which caught all agencies off guard and meant the police deployment arrived too late,' the report said.  

'We were close to fatalities,' wrote Casey. 'That it should happen at our national stadium on the day of our biggest game of football for 55 years is a source of national shame.'

The rioting at the Euro 2020 final last July was described as 'a source of national shame'

Dame Louise Casey's review said 'a horde of 6,000 or more ticketless fans' ruined the dayTwelve hours before the 8pm kick-off, fans had begun to congregate and drink heavily. Yet the Metropolitan Police's plan was only for officers to turn up at 3pm. By then, seven hours later, thousands were already within the shadows of the stadium, already drunk and intent on getting in, with the police powerless to take control.

'Some of what happened was sadly foreseeable,' wrote Casey, highlighting 'a collective failure by organisations involved in planning the final to rigorously assess and mitigate the foreseeable risk of the scale of ticketless fans gathering'.

Speaking to journalists, crossbench peer Casey added: 'If we are a country that can’t get a grip of our fans, we have a problem and that’s what needs to be dealt with

'There is something here about our national game that seems to be a vehicle for thuggery, hooliganism and racism and I would like to see Euro Sunday as a turning point.'

UEFA announced last year that parties interested in hosting Euro 2028 need to confirm that interest by March 23, with the bidders to be announced on April 5. The bidding process for the 2032 finals will also run in parallel.

It is expected that the tournament could have expanded from 24 to 32 teams by 2028, making a five-nation bid more attractive to UEFA.

Turkey have already confirmed they will bid for Euro 2028, having been unsuccessful on five previous occasions (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024). Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia are also in the running with a joint four-nation bid. 

Thousands of ticketless fans broke into Wembley for the England vs Italy Euro 2020 final

Security barriers were compromised after a surge of thugs broke into the national stadium

Ticketless England fans managed to breach security checks before sitting inside Wembley