The UK and Ireland look set to face no opposition in their joint bid to host Euro 2028, with Russia and Turkey dropping out of the running.
After the 2020 European Championships was spread across a number of countries, the 2024 edition is set to take place in Germany, while the identity of the 2028 hosts due to be announced in 2023 with the deadline closing in for would-be host nations to allow their intention to bid.
The joint effort from the UK and Ireland had been one of three likely contenders, with Turkey returning to the table after missing out in the 2024 bidding process and Russia also in the mix after hosting the 2018 World Cup.
However, with the two rivals expected to drop out of the running for differing reasons, the UK and Ireland could end up running unopposed.
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Russia's absence from proceedings comes amid its national and club sides being banned from European competition, with Spartak Moscow removed from this season's Europa League and UEFA and FIFA issuing a joint statement.
"Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice," the statement read.
"These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.
"Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people."
In addition to the situation facing Russia, though, The Mail reports that Turkey will drop out of the running to avoid being beaten for a third time.
Turkey finished second of three potential host nations in 2016, losing out to France, and second to Germany when the voting for Euro 2024 hosts took place.
Italy had also been considering a bid, having finished third behind Turkey and France in the 2016 bidding, but the country is expected to now make a play to host Euro 2032 instead.
According to The Mail, UEFA would be receptive to an unopposed bidder, thanks in part to the war in Ukraine and also due to the backdrop of financial uncertainty facing a number of its member nations owing to the pandemic.
The host of Euro 2028 is due to be confirmed in September 2023, but reports suggest the process could end up being accelerated if there is only one bidder.
