Old Trafford will not host matches during the 2028 European Championship after Manchester United withdrew the stadium from the venue selection process. The decision, made two years ago, was driven by the club's plans to redevelop or rebuild the iconic ground.
Manchester United and the Football Association mutually agreed to remove Old Trafford from the shortlist after the club could not guarantee the stadium's availability for the tournament. United had initially included the ground in the FA's preliminary bid dossier submitted to UEFA.
In a 2023 statement, United confirmed the withdrawal, citing uncertainty over the stadium's future. The club said: 'During follow-up discussions with the FA, it became clear that we were unable to provide the necessary certainty around availability of Old Trafford due to potential redevelopment of the stadium. As a result, we have mutually agreed to withdraw from the shortlist of potential hosts.'
United have since decided to rebuild Old Trafford rather than redevelop the existing structure. The club remains committed to maintaining the stadium's status as the largest club football ground in England.
Euro 2028, co-hosted by the UK and the Republic of Ireland, will feature nine host venues, including four national stadiums and five English club grounds. Old Trafford's absence marks a significant change for the tournament, which will be the first European Championship held across multiple nations since 2020.
