Opinion: Could Arsenal sacrifice the Emirates Cup for Euro 2028 stadium plans?
The Emirates Cup has been synonymous with Arsenal’s home since 2007, played almost every summer apart from a handful of occasions. But with the club planning to expand the stadium in time for Euro 2028, could the pre-season tradition soon be put on hold? There have been several examples in the past when the Emirates […] The post Opinion: Could Arsenal sacrifice the Emirates Cup for Euro 2028 stadium plans? appeared first on Just Arsenal News.
RR aka Rishi-Raj
The Emirates Cup has been synonymous with Arsenal’s home since 2007, played almost every summer apart from a handful of occasions. But with the club planning to expand the stadium in time for Euro 2028, could the pre-season tradition soon be put on hold?
There have been several examples in the past when the Emirates Cup has been cancelled. In 2012, the London Olympics made it impossible to stage, while Euro 2016 forced another postponement. Further stadium work in 2018 caused another delay, before the COVID-19 pandemic meant no tournament in 2020 or 2021.
Most recently, Arsenal hosted Athletic Bilbao in August 2024, winning 3-0 before also triumphing on penalties in the same fixture. That day saw Viktor Gyökeres score his first goal in red and white, giving supporters an early glimpse of the £63.5 million striker.
A rich Emirates Cup history
Arsenal have lifted the Emirates Cup nine times and lost it on six occasions. The competition originally featured two days of matches with extra points awarded for goals scored, providing plenty of entertainment in its early years.
Over time, some memorable moments have emerged. Arsene Wenger’s side beat PSG and Inter Milan in the inaugural edition, while Hamburg became the first visiting winners in 2008. The likes of Real Madrid, Rangers, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Celtic, Valencia, Lyon and Monaco have all graced the tournament, with Galatasaray and Sevilla also among those to take the trophy away from North London.
Unai Emery’s side famously let it slip in 2019 against Lyon, while Gabriel Jesus marked his first summer at Arsenal with a hat-trick in the 2022 edition. The competition has therefore provided a stage for both new signings and young talent to make their mark.
Will expansion plans end the tradition?
There has been no formal confirmation from the club about postponing the Emirates Cup, but speculation around expansion is growing. With Manchester City and Manchester United both linked to significant stadium projects, Arsenal are eager to increase their own capacity. Reports suggest the Gunners could expand to 80,000 seats, which would make the Emirates the biggest club ground in the Premier League.
The challenge is timing. Any major work would have to take place during the summer, directly clashing with the Emirates Cup. If the project is to be completed by Euro 2028, then the tournament could be sacrificed in 2026 and 2027.
For now, fans will wait to see whether tradition gives way to ambition. The Emirates Cup has provided plenty of memories, but the prospect of Arsenal boasting the Premier League’s largest stadium may come at its expense.
What do you think, Gooners, would you sacrifice the Emirates Cup for a bigger ground?
Liam Harding
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The post Opinion: Could Arsenal sacrifice the Emirates Cup for Euro 2028 stadium plans? appeared first on Just Arsenal News.
