NI will not have automatic Euro 2028 spot - FAI

Michael O'Neill is manager of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland will not be classed as a host nation for the Euro 2028 finals and will miss out on a back-door route to qualify, the Football Association of Ireland's chief executive says.

The tournament will be held in UK and Ireland but Northern Ireland will not host any matches after Casement Park's removal as a host stadium.

In a statement to BBC Sport NI on Wednesday, Uefa confirmed that "no decision on the qualifying system for the host nations has been taken yet".

However, it is thought that all of the co-hosts will compete in the group stages of qualification, with at least two spots left in reserve for nations who do not qualify on merit.

In a media briefing in Dublin on Tuesday, FAI CEO David Courell said that would not include Northern Ireland, who also would not be a part of any potential play-off series involving the hosts.

Uefa, however, stopped short of confirming whether or not Northern Ireland is still considered a host nation for the tournament.

Its statement read: "Uefa continues to work together with the UK & Ireland 2028 partnership to explore ideas and options to ensure that Northern Ireland continues to benefit from the tournament and will provide an update on the plans in due course."

The play-offs could involve any of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland who do not qualify automatically for the tournament through the group stages.

Northern Ireland would therefore be required to qualify through the regular qualifying process.

"To be clear Northern Ireland won't qualify for an automatic slot if they are not a host nation," said Courell.

"We are having conversations with Uefa but the working assumption is all of us [the UK and Ireland host nations] will go through qualification and if we are unsuccessful in qualifying on merit, then there will be automatic slots in reserve - but that has yet to be ratified by Uefa," he added.

When contacted by BBC Sport NI, an Irish Football Association spokesperson confirmed the position as relayed in the FAI briefing.

What happened with Casement Park?

Casement Park in Belfast had initially been named as one of the host venues for Euro 2028, but plans to redevelop the stadium in time for the finals were halted in September.

The UK government said the estimated cost of rebuilding the stadium had "risen dramatically" to more than £400m.

It said it would not be providing funding to redevelop the stadium in time for the tournament, adding that there was a "significant risk" it would not be built in time.

Courell suggested he would still like to see Northern Ireland play some part in the Euro 2028 tournament.

"The reality is, while they may not be hosting, we still absolutely want them to feature in this tournament, and we're in deep conversations with UEFA about what shape and form that will take, whether or not they can host training facilities or events or anything of that nature."

The FAI CEO also revealed that Euro 2026 matches originally scheduled to be held at Casement Park could be held in the Republic of Ireland, but only at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

The Aviva Stadium is set to host four group games and two knockout games, including a quarter-final, as it stands.