Villa Park set to host Euro 2028 fixtures - what it means for Aston Villa

Villa Park looks set to host some of the games at the Euro 2028 finals after Turkey withdrew their bid for the tournament.

This means the UK and Republic of Ireland will now bid unopposed and look set to host the competition. Turkey have now agreed to merge their bid with Italy’s to host Euro 2032 instead.

The decision will be ratified by UEFA in Nyon next Tuesday (October, 12) and that means all five countries can now begin preparations to host the tournament in five-years time.

Villa Park is one of ten stadiums which are part of the UK and Ireland’s bid to host the tournament. Others include Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Speaking inside the council chamber earlier this year, Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton spok of Villa Park’s importance in hosting the European Championships in four years’ time. He said:“I’m delighted Villa Park and the city of Birmingham have been selected by the FA to be a stadium and a host city for the UK and Ireland joint bid to host the UEFA men’s Euro 2028 tournament.

“If this bid is successful then we can expect to see tens of thousands of visitors come to this city as we host matches at the tournament. That’s a boost to our economy and, again, a further enhancement to our reputation as an international city. An early estimation of the impact of being a host city is £117.1 million which will provide an absolutely huge boost to our economy.”

Plans to develop stadium and train station before tournament

Villa Park last hosted a major tournament during Euro 96 while, earlier this year, planning was approved to redevelop the stadium to increase capacity from 42,000 to over 50,000.

Villa will totally redevelop their North Stand to add more than 7,000 to their capacity. Plans also include pedestrianising part of Witton Lane. An all-new multi-purpose building – Villa Live – will also be built which will include a club shop, museum as well as bars and eateries.

However, despite being given the all-clear to flatten and demolish the current – and dated – club store, ticket office and Family Fun Zone buildings, plans have been put on hold amid concerns surrounding Witton railway station.

The station, among the closest to a stadium in the Premier League, was labelled “not fit for purpose” by Villa’s outgoing chief executive Christian Purslow given the lack of trains and carriages put on for fans on match days.

Last month (September) West Midlands mayor Andy Street explained how plans to revamp Witton station are well underway, with a specialist team of expert transport consultants currently drawing up an action plan to develop the ‘ageing and overcrowded’ station into one that’s ‘suitable, modern and spacious’.

The millions of pounds needed to redevelop Witton station, which first opened in 1876, will come via the Government-funded West Midlands Combined Authority who’ll seek support from the Department for Transport.

See the 10 stadiums in the UK and Ireland which are set to host Euro 2028 games