FAI chief Jonathan Hill insists the Euro 2028 bid is good for Irish football despite concerns the money would be better used elsewhere.
The FAI has today joined forces with England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to formally announce a joint Euro 2028 bid.
It follows the recent decision of the five nations to scrap plans to try and stage the World Cup in 2030.
Croke Park is earmarked as one of the Republic of Ireland venues along with Aviva Stadium, although talks with UEFA over stadia selection have yet to take place.
Windsor Park in Belfast - capacity 18,614 - is too small to stage matches, yet Northern Ireland are determined to host games in 2028 ahead of Casement Park’s redevelopment.
“We're not along for the ride. We want to be a full part of the bid,” said IFA chief executive Patrick Nelson.
UEFA could yet expand Euro 2028 from 24 teams to 32 and a decision on the winning bid is due in late 2023.
Turkey are also keen to host, while Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia have already discussed a joint submission.
The closing date for bid registration is March 23 with an official announcement of candidates due on April 5.
For now, all five associations are currently in the dark as to how many - if any - automatic qualification places would be up for grabs if the bid is successful.
Today’s announcement comes just hours before the FAI’s eagerly awaited ‘Strategy 2022-2025’ launch on the association’s YouTube channel at 7.00pm tonight.
But concerns have already been raised that the FAI should channel funding into the grassroots game and facilities, instead of chasing major tournaments.
FAI boss Hill was quizzed on this today and said: “Look, obviously, this is more than just a football tournament.
“The first thing to say is we’re working hand in hand with the Irish Government in relation to the planning for the bid.
“Any investment into the bid and into any successful bid also brings a lot of benefits other than just footballing.
“Social and community benefits, the obvious benefits around tourism, investment in trade, employment and skills and everything that goes with a tournament.
“The Government is committed to working with us in relation to identifying all the benefits in relation to that, over and above the obvious benefits.
“And, as we’ll say in our strategic vision tonight, we’re looking to use football to inspire the nation and connect communities.
“Both we and the Irish Government are extremely excited at the possibility of the bid and are working closely together to make sure that we maximise value from it.”
Hill continued: “We’re very much aware of making sure that is a balanced approach overall but the Government is firmly behind this.
“They see the benefit of hosting major global sporting events and remember the Euros is the third largest sporting event in the world. We share with them their enthusiasm.”
Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell said Scotland has benefited hugely from hosting games at the delayed Euro 2020 finals last summer.
“All five national associations want the game to develop and there’s no better way, experience tells us, than to host a major event such as this and reap the benefits.”
Quizzed on whether Croke Park would be available as a host venue in Dubin, FAI chief Hill said: “Croke Park and Aviva Stadium would be in our thinking.
“In terms of the feasibility study we initiated for the World Cup, we talked to (the GAA) on a regular basis anyway.
“So that was part of the initial discussion. We’ll wait to see what the parameters from UEFA are in terms of stadia number and matches.
“We also need to find out if it’s a 24 or 32 team tournament before we take those decisions.”
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