As reported by BBC Sport, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons expressed that he is still waiting for assurances from the UK government regarding funding for the redevelopment of Casement Park. Originally estimated to cost £77.5m, the project is now projected to exceed £300m, according to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. However, concerns regarding funding have not yet been resolved as stated by Mr Lyons in an interview with BBC Sport NI.
If necessary funding is not received, alternative options will need to be explored to ensure Northern Ireland’s participation in Euro 2028. Despite these uncertainties, Mr Lyons remains hopeful that Northern Ireland can still be involved in the event and emphasized the importance of finding other ways to participate in it as it would have a significant impact and inspire many individuals to get involved in sports.
Recently, Mr Lyons unveiled The Northern Ireland Football Fund, allocating £36.2m for the upgrade of football stadiums in the country. He also pledged support for grassroots football and the establishment of a national training center. As reported by BBC Sport NI, Uefa has set a deadline of June 2027 for the completion of the project at Casement Park, located in west Belfast which has been selected as Northern Ireland’s only venue for Euro 2028 tournament which will be held in 10 stadiums across UK and Ireland.
