Partners Launch Evaluation of Euro 2028 Tournament
Four governments will track the UK and Ireland's co-hosted tournament through a programme led by Grant Thornton.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Soccer
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Governments of Ireland, Scotland, the UK and Wales have set up an evaluation programme for UEFA Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland. Grant Thornton will lead delivery, with one pre-tournament report and three post-tournament reports planned.
Why it matters
The tournament is billed as the largest sporting event ever jointly staged by the UK and Ireland, spanning eight cities and nine stadiums. A structured evaluation aims to measure economic and legacy effects beyond the tournament itself.
Partners project up to £3.6bn in socio-economic benefits across the UK and Ireland from 2028 to 2030, versus no stated baseline. Methodology behind the projection has not been detailed, and the realised outcome remains unknown.
The players
Grant Thornton
A global professional services firm that will lead delivery of the evaluation programme, supported by Verian, Ecorys, The Sports Consultancy and Sheffield Hallam University.
UK Sport
The UK government agency responsible for high-performance sport, working with delivery partners to establish the Academic Panel.
Simon Shibli
A Loughborough University professor and sports policy researcher who will chair the Academic Panel.
The details
The programme covers the Governments of Ireland, Scotland, the UK and Wales and includes an evaluation framework, baseline analysis, post-event impact assessment and long-term legacy analysis. An Academic Panel chaired by Loughborough University professor Simon Shibli will provide challenge and methodological assurance.
Timeline
2026: Evaluation programme begins running.
2027: Tour de France Grand Départ and The Open take place in Scotland.
2028: UEFA Euro 2028 tournament is staged.
2030: Evaluation programme concludes.
Big Picture
The evaluation programme extends the approach used to measure Glasgow 2026, which produced a £223m boost for the Scottish economy. Euro 2028 applies similar post-event scrutiny across four governments and a multi-year legacy window.
The evaluation will publish one pre-tournament report and three post-tournament reports, giving fans and local residents in host cities a structured record of the tournament's outcomes. Readers can follow the findings as they are released through 2030.
The takeaway
Structured evaluation of major sporting events can show whether promised economic and legacy benefits materialise. Euro 2028 partners will publish findings across several years to test their £3.6bn projection.
What happens next
The Academic Panel will be established, and the pre-tournament report is scheduled ahead of the 2028 tournament.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Access All Areas.
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