Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings has been appointed to the board of directors responsible for the 2028 European Championship, which will be hosted in Britain and Ireland. The 32-year-old defender is the sole player selected as one of the three independent non-executive directors overseeing the organization of the tournament.
Mings, who has been part of Aston Villa since 2019, has also represented England on 18 occasions, participating in the 2021 tournament. Due to a series of injuries over the past two seasons, Mings has been sidelined, and by the time Euro 2028 arrives, he will be 35, meaning his participation on the field for England is uncertain.
This appointment forms part of the unveiling of “UK & Ireland 2028 Limited” — the company responsible for delivering Euro 2028. Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association, will head the Euro 2028 board, ensuring that the tournament runs smoothly. The decision to host largely in England, which boasts modern stadiums, aligns with UEFA’s financial interests, especially considering the reduced revenues from Euro 2021 held in pandemic conditions.
Following recent challenges, such as pandemic-related declines in cash reserves, UEFA aims to enhance its financial position by increasing reserves to over 500 million euros through the upcoming tournament. The European Championship, held every four years, significantly supports UEFA’s financial operations and aids in funding development across its member associations.
The venue lineup for Euro 2028 includes Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, set to replace the iconic Goodison Park. This site was featured in the venue announcements in April 2023 and currently hosts test events in anticipation of the event. Conversely, Casement Park, an unused stadium in Belfast, was initially considered but has since been removed due to insufficient funding commitment from the British government for redevelopment. UEFA has yet to confirm alternative locations for the matches initially planned for Belfast.