Former Northern Ireland captain Martin O'Neill has expressed deep disappointment over Belfast's failure to secure hosting rights for Euro 2028, calling it a 'missed opportunity' for the region. O'Neill, who won 64 international caps and participated in the 1982 World Cup, believes it was a significant chance for the current crop of Northern Ireland players to experience a major tournament at home. He highlights the financial implications and the commercial opportunities lost, stating that the situation is 'really poor'.
The proposed venue, Casement Park, was withdrawn due to funding issues, and the tournament will now be hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. O'Neill emphasizes the impact this decision will have on Northern Ireland in the foreseeable future, asking how the UK government couldn't have come together to put some money into the project. He also questions the commercial opportunities that will be lost.
Despite his disappointment, O'Neill remains focused on his current role as the interim manager at Celtic, where he is temporarily holding the fort until a permanent manager is appointed. He has reiterated that he is just there until the new appointment, but has no indication of when that might be. O'Neill's commitment to his current role is clear, and he is ready to step aside once a replacement is found, even if it's before the upcoming match against St Mirren.
