Northern Ireland must not give up its Casement Park dream – StadiumDB.com

The recent announcement that Northern Ireland will not host any matches at the 2028 European Championship is undoubtedly a hammer blow for the nation. Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive David Courell revealed that Casement Park was no longer an option for hosting Euro 2028 matches. However, with UEFA’s rules stating that redevelopment work needs to be completed by the summer of 2027, Cornell’s Declaration seems extremely premature.

FAI pulls the rug on Belfast

UEFA originally selected ten venues in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to host Euro 2028. These included Casement Park. The news was a major boost for sport in Northern Ireland, while numerous other sectors such as the betting industry were set to benefit from staging the tournament.

Sports betting site Betway will be among the platforms offering a plethora of Euro 2028 markets, and Northern Irish fans were looking forward to getting involved. However, funding delays and political issues have scuppered plans to redevelop Casement Park, and the FAI will now focus its efforts on staging games at Aviva Park in Dublin.

There was talk that Croke Park or other Irish venues could be considered, but Courell says UEFA have decided not to head down that route. While we, the Republic of Ireland, did express a desire to host as many games, including standing up an additional venue in this country, UEFA have taken the decision to fall back to a nine-venue solution for the tournamenthe told RTE Sport. ‘It’s their tournament and we respect their position. ‘So, as a result, the fixtures that were scheduled to take place in Casement Park are now to be redistributed across the existing venues.

The Aviva Stadium is a phenomenal venue that has a rich history, with UEFA as recently as the Europa League final this year, and we are hopeful that UEFA will see the merit in distributing more games south of the border.

Design of a new Casement Park

Northern Ireland must fight for its Euro 2028 dream

While Courell and the FAI appear to be resigned to their fate, a Northern Ireland construction company has offered renewed hope to football fans. Z Property has submitted a proposal directly to the FAI and the Stormont Executive which could reignite the dream to stage Euro 2028 matches north of the border. The plans include the construction of a temporary modularstadium close to Belfast city centre which they estimate would take around nine months to complete to UEFA’s specifications.

With the company insisting the venue could be built and operational well in advance of UEFA’s deadlines, the decision to drop Northern Ireland from Euro 2028 is baffling. A temporary stadium constructed from shipping containers –the innovative Stadium 974 – was used during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Z Property’s proposal is a similar modular design. This plan isn’t just about football – it’s about showcasing Belfast’s resilience and ingenuity, commercial manager Paul Durnien said. The modular approach offers a practical solution that works with tight timelines, existing infrastructure, and significantly reduced costs. It’s a chance to celebrate football in Northern Ireland in a way that we can all be proud of.

Four potential sites in Belfast have been identified as having suitable transport links and the firm says the project is feasible if supported by the appropriate authorities. The cost of the original Casement Park redevelopment plans soared past £300m after extensive wrangling, but the modular design will likely be far more affordable to achieve. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) pledged £15m towards the redevelopment of the stadium, and it is unclear if their offer would apply to a venue elsewhere.

The Northern Ireland Executive previously promised to stump up £62m while the Irish government has pledged more than £40m. Given that the modular design proposed by Z Property would be more cost-effective than the original plans, the financial shortfall would be significantly lower.

Design of a new Casement Park

Z Property’s managing director Scott Kennedy has urged all stakeholders to get back around the table to ensure that Northern Ireland can be a viable part of the Euro 2028 tournament. As football fans and long-time players in construction, we’re heartbroken that Northern Ireland is missing out on this incredible opportunity, Kennedy said.

“But instead of lamenting what could have been, we decided to act. A modular stadium is not only viable — it’s the key to putting Belfast back on the Euro 2028 map. “We have the expertise, the vision and the passion to make this happen. Belfast deserves to be part of Euro 2028, and we are ready to rise to the challenge. Now, it’s up to the community, local authorities, and government to join us in making this dream a reality.