· 13 November 2025, 12:30
Newcastle United's St James' Park has been chosen as one of the venues to be used as the UK & Ireland hosts the 2028 European Championships.
There was initially a fear over whether Newcastle would be able to host the event, given the uncertainty surrounding the future of St James' Park. Some media outlets even suggested that a new stadium would be accelerated in order to have a new stadium in place for the tournament. Unless it arrived flatpacked like a McDonald's restaurant, that always felt a bit ambitious.
As it turned out, there was no need to worry as Newcastle has yet to even make a decision on the stadium, never mind have any chance of construction being underway by the time the Euros roll into town.
With St James' Park fully confirmed as a venue, it has now been announced that the venue will host five games in the tournament. Four group games and one match from the round of 16, which could feature England depending on how things work out.
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St James' Park hosted England v Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2024
England could play their quarter-final at St James' Park
England have to qualify for the tournament first, as the host nations have opted not to take automatic qualification. Should England qualify, they'll be dropped in Group B, and if they win that group, their quarter-final will be played at St James' Park.
Newcastle City Council leader, Cllr Karen Kilgour, was delighted with the news that Newcastle will host five games, as relayed by The Chronicle.
“The announcement that Newcastle will host five UEFA EURO 2028 matches is absolutely fantastic news for our city. We’re a football-mad city, and as Newcastle United has shown, the atmosphere at St James’ Park makes it one of the most exciting grounds to play at in the country.
"Visiting fans love coming here, and we can’t wait to welcome supporters from across Europe to our wonderful city.
“As a lifelong Newcastle United supporter and season ticket holder, I’m thrilled that international football will be coming to St James’ Park on such a major scale. We all remember the excitement of Euro ’96, but UEFA EURO 2028 promises to be even bigger and better.
“I’m also delighted to see the official host city logo unveiled. The Tyne Bridge is such an iconic symbol for Newcastle. It represents not only our city, but our pride, our spirit, and our warm welcome to visitors. Seeing it featured in this way is truly special.
“We’ve all seen how visiting fans can transform our city during major tournaments, and I can’t wait to see the famous fan walks to St James’ Park and the atmosphere they’ll bring.
“We’re determined to play our part in creating a tournament to remember, one that will be brilliant both on and off the pitch. Euro 2028 will be an unforgettable summer of football, for players, supporters, and everyone across our communities.
“This is about more than football, it’s about showcasing Newcastle on the international stage. Hosting UEFA EURO 2028 will bring a huge boost to our local economy, with hundreds of thousands of fans bringing millions of pounds into our city, supporting local businesses, and helping to attract investment. It will have a lasting impact, inspiring communities and creating opportunities for years to come. I can't wait!”
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Newcastle is set to receive a nice £98 million boost
Away from the action on the pitch, the tournament is expected to deliver a £98 million boost to the local economy.
More than 256,000 tickets will be up for grabs for the tournament, so there's a good chance of being able to see some qualify football in the summer of 2028.
Internationals when there's something at stake is what its' all about. Qualifiers and friendlies in the middle of a season can get in the bin.