UEFA Euro 2028 will be co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland — a landmark sporting event for Irish football. This guide looks ahead to the early betting markets and what it means for Irish punters to have a home tournament.
Euro 2028 Host Nations: UK and Ireland
Euro 2028 will be hosted across venues in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. For the Republic, this will be the first time hosting a major men's football tournament. Venues are expected to include the Aviva Stadium in Dublin among others across the five host associations. Each host nation automatically qualifies for the tournament.
Main Early Markets for Euro 2028
- Outright winner: Euro 2028 winner markets open as early as 2027, with pre-qualification prices available for the leading nations. Host nations are expected to receive a marginal market boost for home advantage.
- Ireland to progress from the group stage: With automatic qualification and home venue support, expectations will be elevated for the Republic's performance.
- England to win Euro 2028: England hosting (via England as a constituent UK association) will carry market interest; home advantage at Wembley is significant.
How Host Nation Advantage Works
Host nations in major tournaments have historically outperformed their typical market price. Home crowd, familiar stadiums, no travel and local knowledge all contribute. However, the advantage is not absolute — host nations have been eliminated in the group stage and quarter-finals in multiple tournaments.
Responsible Betting
Set a budget for this event before the first market opens. Contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie. 18+ only.
GRAI remote betting licence in force. 18+ only, T&Cs apply.
Compare Betting Odds →Frequently Asked Questions
UEFA Euro 2028 is co-hosted by the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland as separate associations) and the Republic of Ireland. Each of the five associations contributes venues, and all five co-hosts receive automatic qualification for the tournament.
Yes — the Republic of Ireland qualifies automatically for Euro 2028 as a co-host nation. This is a significant benefit as Ireland does not need to progress through the UEFA qualifying campaign. Players born in Ireland who qualify for the Republic are eligible regardless of which English clubs they play for.
Early outright winner markets for Euro 2028 will likely open in 2027 or early 2028, based on how bookmakers have approached previous tournaments. Full qualification markets (for the non-host nations) will open alongside the UEFA qualifying draw, expected in autumn 2026 or early 2027.
The official Euro 2028 venue list will be confirmed by UEFA and the five host associations. The Aviva Stadium in Dublin is the Republic's primary international football venue and is the most likely Irish venue. Croke Park has previously hosted major events but is primarily a GAA stadium.