There was good news for the city of Liverpool with this week with the announcement that the city will host games in the Euro 2028 Championships, but it is Everton’s brand spanking new Bramley Dock Stadium that has got the go ahead to host matches, and not Anfield.

England, alongside the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will host the tournament. 

In 2021 countries from all over Europe hosted matches, culminating with the final at Wembley, but this will be the first time the tournament has been held solely on the UK mainland since England held the tournament in 1996. The UK & Ireland was announced as the winner of the 2028 bid after Turkey pulled out to focus on their joint bid for the 2032 European Championships with Italy. 

All the other home nations will be experiencing something new in 2028 having never hosted an elite level international football tournament before; however, all nations have played in a competition before, with Wales having the most success of the smaller countries, reaching the Semi-Finals in 2016. England are seen as potential favourites for the championships next year and given “home advantage” are expected to be in the same position come 2028. 

Whilst it is good news for Everton, the move not to host matches at Anfield could be seen as a snub. L

Last year the city of won rave reviews for it’s hosting of Eurovision, so Liverpudlians are no strangers to being part of major events. Everton fan, Calon Saxby is excited for what it could mean for the club and the city; “I think it’s the perfect city to host a tournament, it’s a rich football city with Everton and Liverpool being here and I just think it can only be a good thing for the city as a whole.” 

Fans on the other side of the divide are happy the city is hosting the iconic tournament, but not so keen on Everton getting the staging kudos. Liverpool fan Matthew Hyman is excited for the Euros, but is adamant he won’t be at Bramley-Moore anytime in 2028. “Obviously it’s great for the city and I’m looking forward to seeing England do well in the home tournament, but I don’t think it’s right that a stadium like Anfield can’t host any big games because of what’s gone on with the Sun, but I think that the city of Liverpool should be hosting a big game at their biggest stadium, Anfield.” 

Everton’s Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman’s is unlikely to be involved but knows he still know the significance to Liverpool, and his home nation of Ireland. 

“(It’s) Great for the city of Liverpool, great for us as a club. What a stadium to be a part of it and obviously being Irish as well, I’m delighted to have Ireland involved too,” he said speaking to LBC News Radio at the Bramley-Moore Dock site. 

Attention now turns to the 2024 European Championships in Germany for the home nations as their qualifying campaigns continue, but once the dust has settled in Berlin all eyes will be on 2028 and how they will fare in their back yards. One question remains however, will football finally come home? 

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