Scotland could be involved in a home nations playoff if the joint UK and Ireland bid to host Euro 2028 is successful but they fail to qualify.
Hampden is one of the venues included in the five-nation bid involving Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Hosts are normally granted automatic qualification for home tournaments, but with so many nations involved, that simply won’t be possible. Bid organisers have asked UEFA to keep two spots open and the hope is that all five teams make it, either via normal qualification routes.
However, if that doesn’t happen, then there’s the possibility of those who don’t facing off against each other to earn the two host slots, according to the Daily Mail. The details are still to be thrashed out as to how exactly the two slots would be allocated, but a show-down on the park is reportedly one of the options under consideration.
Along with Scotland’s national stadium, Wembley, St James’ Park, the Tottenham stadium, the Etihad, Villa Park, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and the yet to be built, new Everton Stadium and Casement Park in Belfast are the other stadia to be used as host venues.
Hampden played its part in Euro 2020, but Covid restrictions meant attendances were limited for Scotland's first appearance at a major finals since 1998. SFA chief Ian Maxwell is hoping the national stadium will be put to full use by the Tartan Army this time around and that Glasgow can reap the benefits.
He said: “We missed out on that, to an extent, during Euro 2020 because of the Covid restrictions. We did not see the full benefit of hosting full crowds at Hampden as much as we would have liked and it's important to put that right.
“We can't underestimate the impact that would have on Glasgow as a city and Scotland as a country. In terms of growing the game, which is our primary objective, there is no better way to engage an audience than seeing
“Europe's best male players come to Hampden and participate in an iconic tournament.”
