ICC Belfast has been confirmed as the official venue for the UEFA EURO 2028 Qualifying Draw, which will take place on 6 December 2026. The announcement marks the latest major milestone on the road to the 2028 tournament, set to be hosted across the UK and Ireland.
The draw will determine the group-stage pairings, with the top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the finals. UEFA EURO 2028 will be staged across nine venues in eight cities, including Dublin, but not Belfast, after the plans to redevelop Casement Park as a venue ran out of time.
Hosting the draw is some small compensation for that and will allow the City to present itself to the watching world.
It will attract national team coaches, association officials, UEFA leadership and invited guests, alongside extensive international media. It will be broadcast live, placing a global spotlight on both ICC Belfast and Northern Ireland.
UEFA projects that EURO 2028 will deliver a £3.6 billion (€4.1 billion) social and economic boost to the host nations through job creation, regional development and increased tourism.
Organisers say the tournament will also provide training and employment opportunities for local communities, supported by investment from the four partner governments.
Rob McConnell, Chief Executive of ICC Belfast, said the announcement represents “another landmark achievement for sport and tourism in Northern Ireland,” adding that hosting the draw would showcase Belfast on an international stage.
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood said the draw marks the official start of the journey to UEFA EURO 2028 and is “a proud moment for the Irish FA and for everyone who loves football here in Northern Ireland.”
Patrick Nelson, CEO of the Irish FA, said hosting the draw is “a real privilege” and a key moment in the build-up to a memorable tournament.
Image Credit: ICC Belfast
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