Euro 2028: 'A huge day' - IFA and FAI welcome tournament confirmation in Nyon
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Euro 2028: Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson reacts to announcement
The chief executives of the IFA and FAI were delighted following the announcement that the UK and Ireland will host Euro 2028.
Tournament games are set to be held at Casement Park in Belfast and Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
"This is a huge day - it's going to be a fabulous celebration of football," believes Patrick Nelson of the IFA.
The FAI's Jonathan Hill said the announcement was "really positive and we're very pleased".
Confirmation that the UK and Ireland will stage the tournament was made by Uefa on Tuesday morning in Nyon.
A total of 10 stadiums, across nine cities, will host games with the FAI hoping to stage six matches at the Aviva Stadium, although a final decision will be made by Uefa,
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill says hosting Euro 2028 will be 'something special'
"Northern Ireland has never held a major tournament before - many years ago we probably wouldn't have dreamed of it but now we do dare to dream," added Nelson.
"In five years time we're going to be hosting part of the third biggest sporting tournament in Belfast and Northern Ireland.
"There's going to be socio-economic benefits for the whole of the UK and Ireland, and Northern Ireland will not be left out as we have a great celebration of football. It's going to football for all, football for the future and football for good.
"We put a huge amount of work into it [the bid]. Northern Ireland has been part of the plan from day one. This is a day for celebration.
"We would hope there will be a number of matches in Belfast and it's going to be a great time. The proposal that we've worked on with Uefa would suggest that host nations will play as many matches in their home countries."
Lasting legacy
Hill said the FAI will start work now to ensure Euro 2028 has a lasting legacy in the Republic of Ireland.
"For us we think the hard work starts here - everyone talks about legacy in relation to major tournaments often they think about that in relation to what happens after the tournament but were going to start thinking about that from now.
"We'll think about that in terms of our own grass roots football, our league of Ireland football both in terms of facilities and from a very simple sporting perspective we obviously want to make the most that we can do of the tournament in relation to get as many people as possible involved in our sport because that's what we're here to do.
"We will see some of the best footballers on our shores and it will inspire young boys and young girls to become involved in football.
"And it will inspire more people to become referees and coaches and administrators and that's what we need and I think it will be really positive for everyone within the sport and it will be super positive for the whole of Ireland."
Work has yet to start of the the development of Casement Park with plans to transform it into a 34,000 capacity stadium.
An artist's impression of the new proposed stadium, which would have a capacity of 34,500
Political instability, issues behind the scenes and planning permission U-turns have combined to delay the project and there are concerns that it may not be ready for 2028.
"The government has said they will actually make sure that there is money available for Casement," said Nelson.
"We'll work with government partners, the GAA and everyone we need to to make sure NI plays a full part in this tournament."
Hill admits it will be a challenge of finish the project in time for the tournament and is not considering Croke Park in Dublin as an alternative venue if the Belfast stadium is not completed.
"We want to see as many games on the island of Ireland as we can, so we'll do anything we can do to help.
"I think that our starting position is that Casement will be there and that Northern Ireland will absolutely be a part of the bid. If we get to that point that's one for us to talk through with Uefa,"