In a recent update to RecordSport, SFA chief Ian Maxwell shed light on the decision to feature Hampden Park as Scotland’s venue for the UEFA Euro 2028, explaining the bypass of Celtic Park for this honour.
This Tuesday marked the announcement of Scotland joining England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland as a host nation for the forthcoming Euro 2028, a significant milestone for football in the region. While England boasts six stadiums for the event, including two in London, the other nations will each contribute one stadium. Glasgow’s Hampden Park has been earmarked as Scotland’s sole venue, promising a series of six top-tier matches on home turf.
The revelation stirred excitement among Celtic and Scottish football enthusiasts, fueling hopes for much-needed upgrades to the ageing national stadium. Fans envisaged the end stands drawing nearer to the pitch and the erasure of the seldom-used running track among the priority improvements.
However, Maxwell’s statements have tempered these expectations.
He conveyed to the press, as recounted by the Daily Record, “There will be changes made to the stadium in terms of preparation for Euro 2028,” he emphasised the modest nature of these alterations, stating, “We need to be realistic about what those are. There will be tweaks and upgrades rather than anything substantial because it’s important we use the income and interest that this game will generate to help the game across the country for future generations.”
The choice of Hampden over Celtic Park, while anticipated by many, still left a few puzzled, especially given Celtic Park’s stature as one of UK’s largest football arenas. However, as Maxwell elaborated, the selection process afforded Scotland just a single venue, positioning Hampden as a natural choice.
“Hampden Park is the national stadium,” Maxwell articulated. “It’s world-famous for hosting matches. We’re in the house of UEFA today and the video club is showing Zinedine Zidane scoring in the Champions League final which is an iconic moment that everyone remembers and associates with Hampden. “As the SFA, we want to see games played at the national stadium. That’s the only fitting place to hold such a prestigious event.”
Although the vibrant ambience of tournament matches would arguably find a better home at Celtic Park, it appears that the national stadium’s superior facilities gave it the edge. For now, Celtic Park remains a Celtic stronghold, awaiting perhaps a call from the United Rugby Championship for their flagship match once more.
