It's official: Ireland will co-host EURO 2028 with the UK.
The exciting news was confirmed by UEFA on Tuesday, with six matches including a last-16 and quarter-final game to be held at Dublin's Aviva Stadium and games at Casement Park in Belfast also pencilled in.
It will be the first time ever that Ireland has hosted a major international football tournament, and fans will be hoping that the promise of the young generation of Irish players currently emerging will be realised in the intervening years to give the national team the chance to compete at the tournament on home soil.
Stephen Kenny's current side has plenty of young talent already in it, and there are plenty of similarly exciting prospects showing promise at underage level.
The qualification format proposed for EURO 2028 will hopefully give Ireland a good chance at reaching the finals - but how would the XI line up should they reach the tournament?
We've taken a stab at predicting the Ireland team for EURO 2028 below - with their current clubs and their age at the time of EURO 2028 listed.
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How the Ireland team could look by EURO 2028
GK: Gavin Bazunu (Current club: Southampton; age in June 2028: 26)
10 September 2023; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
There is a chance that Caoimhín Kelleher could strike to claim the goalkeeper's jersey in the coming years, but Gavin Bazunu has made it his own fair and square since making his Irish debut in 2021.
He has faced criticism in some quarters for his performances at club level, but he has generally been reliable in an Ireland jersey and, at only 21 years old, he has a lot of time to develop between now and EURO 2028. Nailed down, for now.
CB: Sam Curtis (Current club: St. Patrick's Athletic; age in June 2028: 22)
12 September 2023; Sam Curtis of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and San Marino at Turner's Cross Stadium in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Sam Curtis has seen more game time at right-back for St. Pat's, but has been deployed at centre-back as well, and we have him at RCB for this lineup.
He has represented Ireland at every age level up to U21 level, and has impressed in the Pat's defence this season as they continue to stay in touch with the title race and prepare for a cup final against Bohs next month.
Still only 17, he will hopefully be a top prospect by the time the EUROs come around in 2028.
CB: Nathan Collins (Current club: Brentford; age in June 2028: 27)
10 September 2023; Nathan Collins of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
If Evan Ferguson didn't exist, Nathan Collins would be widely talked about as the brightest prospect in Irish football.
It is remarkable that he is still only 22, but Collins has shown that he has the potential to be a top centre-back for Ireland for the foreseeable future, and he will undoubtedly play a pivotal role if this generation of youngsters is indeed to push on to tournament success in the coming years.
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CB: Dara O'Shea (Current club: Burnley; age in June 2028: 29)
7 September 2023; Dara O'Shea of Republic of Ireland and Theo Hernández of France during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between France and Republic of Ireland at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Dara O'Shea will at the tail-end of his 20s by the time of EURO 2028 but, given the relative inexperience elsewhere in our selection, he gets the nod at LCB.
Andrew Omobamidele is perhaps unlucky to miss out here, but O'Shea has generally been more consistent in his appearances thus far for Ireland, and he will be bang in the middle of his prime when the EUROs come to Ireland.
RM: Festy Ebosele (Current club: Udinese; age in June 2028: 25)
10 September 2023; Festy Ebosele of Republic of Ireland and Wout Weghorst of Netherlands during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
On the right hand side of the four in a 3-4-1-2 is another of Ireland's most exciting prospects.
Festy Ebosele has been getting regular starts in Serie A this season for Udinese, and the Wexford man made his first senior appearances for Ireland during last month's international window. It's hard to see a world in which he is not a nailed-on starter for Ireland by EURO 2028.
CM: Josh Cullen (Current club: Burnley; age in June 2028: 32)
10 September 2023; Josh Cullen of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
If we are miraculously correct in predicting the future here, Josh Cullen would be the oldest member of this starting XI in 2028, and it's likely he would also be handed the captain's armband given his experience.
He has consistently been the best midfielder under Stephen Kenny, and will hope to adjust to Premier League life as his teammates around him at Burnley do likewise and the season progresses. Would bring valuable experience to the side.
CM: Will Smallbone (Current club: Southampton; age in June 2028: 28)
19 June 2023; Will Smallbone of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
It's easy to forget just how young Will Smallbone is and, similarly to Collins and O'Shea in the defence, he would be in his prime at the time of Ireland hosting EURO 2028.
He combined with Cullen well in midfield during March's internationals, and has generally impressed any time he has lined out at senior level. Will only get better.
LM: Trent Kone-Doherty (Current club: Liverpool; age in June 2028: 22)
10 October 2021; Trent Kone Doherty of Republic of Ireland in action against Daniel Markovski of North Macedonia during the UEFA U17 Championship Qualifying Round Group 5 match between Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia at Turner's Cross in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
The experience predicted in the centre of midfield is balanced by the exciting prospects on either side of Cullen and Smallbone, and Trent Kone-Doherty is one of the brightest attacking talents currently lining out in Liverpool's youth academy.
It has been two years since he played international football at underage level but, given he has been banging in the goals in the U18 Premier League thus far this season, it's hard to see him being away from the Ireland youth setup for much longer.
We're hopeful we'll see him bombing down the left-wing for Ireland in 2028.
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CAM: Andy Moran (Current club: Blackburn; age in June 2028: 24)
12 September 2023; Andrew Moran of Republic of Ireland in action against Mattia Sancisi of San Marino during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and San Marino at Turner's Cross Stadium in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Highly rated for his ability and attitude by just about every coach he has played under, Moran has been hugely impressive for Blackburn during his loan spell so far.
Brighton's former youth coach put him on the same level as Evan Ferguson, and Moran seems destined to scale to brilliant heights if he puts his head down. He would be a serious creative force going forward for this Ireland team.
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ST: Mason Melia (Current club: St. Patrick's Athletic; age in June 2028: 20)
12 May 2023; Mason Melia of St Patrick's Athletic after his side's victory in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between St Patrick's Athletic and Drogheda United at Richmond Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
It is simply extraordinary that, by the time Ireland co-host EURO 2028, Mason Melia will still only be 20 years old.
But he is that good that we are tipping him to start up top should the Irish side qualify for the finals. He became St. Patrick's Athletic's youngest ever League of Ireland player when he made his senior debut aged 15 earlier this year. The crux of Ireland's attack at the under-17 European Championships this summer, Melia is going places - and he will be a big player for Ireland in the coming decade.
Melia is tipped to sign for Manchester City after being courted by several of England's biggest clubs in recent months.
ST: Evan Ferguson (Current club: Brighton; age in June 2028: 23)
19 June 2023; Evan Ferguson of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Were you expecting anyone else?
Somehow, Evan Ferguson stands as an even-younger League of Ireland debutant than Melia, making his senior bow for Bohemians at just 14 in 2019, and he has gone from strength to strength in the years since.
A regular with Brighton at just 18, he is already a Premier League hat-trick scorer - Ferguson is the most exciting talent Ireland have produced in recent memory.
It is not hyperbolic to say that Ferguson can be one of the best strikers in the world if he continues on his current trajectory, and he will no doubt be the posterboy should Ireland reach their home EUROs in 2028.
There are plenty of players that are within a hair's width of making this team, and our XI is by no means definitive. Of course, there are 26 players in squads for European Championships these days - so we've lined up some of those we think are on the cusp of making it into the team, and will certainly be in the mix for a squad place in 2028.
Joe Hodge, James Abankwah, and Caoimhín Kelleher are particularly close to being in the starting XI.
GK: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool; 2028 age: 29); Mark Travers (Stoke City, 2028 age: 29)
DEF: Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest; 2028 age: 25); James Abankwah (Charlton; 2028 age: 24); Cathal Heffernan (Newcastle; 2028 age: 23)
MID: Jason Knight (Derby; 2028 age: 27); Joe Hodge (Wolves; 2028 age: 25); Rocco Vata (Celtic; 2028 age: 23); Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan; 2028 age: 23)
FW: Adam Idah (Norwich; 2028 age: 27); Troy Parrott (Excelsior; 2028 age: 26); Aaron Connolly (Hull; 2028 age: 28); Sinclair Armstrong (QPR; 2028 age: 24)
Ireland at EURO 2028: The final line-up
The final shape we've gone with is a 3-4-1-2, with a solid balance between youth and experience. The average age of the squad is just over 25, and seven of the XI chosen have already been capped at senior level.
It is hard to see into the future but, should Ireland get to EURO 2028, we could see the team above being the side that gets us the closest to ultimate glory.
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