Politicians last night supported attempts to bring the 2016 European Championships to Scotland.

Any bid would need substantial support from the Scottish government and Stewart Maxwell, the sports minister, told The Herald on Tuesday that it would be a "major challenge" to meet the stadium requirements.

However, Jamie McGrigor MSP, shadow minister for sport, was last night more upbeat.

"Two years ago, Annabel Goldie offered her support to the SFA should they go down this road and certainly it is a great idea. It is spine-tingling thinking about what a potential decade of British sport we could have lined up - London 2012, Glasgow 2014, Euro 2016 and, of course, there is the possibility that the World Cup could be brought to these shores in 2018 as well.

"There is real potential for Scotland to host the 2016 European Championships. Like Glasgow 2014, it would provide another boost to Scottish sportsmen and provide long-term sporting inspiration for youngsters. I look forward to the SFA making a sound case for submitting a bid and taking this idea forward."

Iain Gray, the Scottish Labour leader, said: "Having the European football championships hosted in Scotland would be a wonderful opportunity for Scottish youngsters to see football at the highest level and follow on from both the Olympics Games in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

"Along with the bid from the English FA to host the World Cup in 2018, it would make an incredible decade of sport in the UK."

Tavish Scott, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, was also enthusiastic: "I strongly support this and will work with other parties to make the case for Scotland."

He added: "I know from speaking to Gordon Smith, chief executive of the SFA, and David Taylor, general secretary of UEFA, that there is good support for this idea. The Scottish government should build on the successful bids to host the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup and prepare the case for Scotland to host for European Championships."

Any bid by the SFA will now be made in conjunction with the Football Association of Wales. Last night, sources in Cardiff said that there was still an enthusiasm in Wales for taking the idea beyond the "tentative" talks that have already taken place.

The most likely scene for these discussions will be the International Football Association Board meeting in Belfast in February. UEFA will meet later this month to discuss the criteria for bid submissions and early indications of who will go for the championships will be known to both the SFA and the FAW when they next meet.

The Irish Football Association also confirmed an interest in co-hosting the event yesterday when their president, Raymond Kennedy, said he was keen to talk to the Scots in February about the possibility of playing some games in Northern Ireland. Joining forces with Scotland and Wales would offer the IFA their best chance of success but UEFA are unlikely to accept three host nations, as the privilege brings automatic qualification for the finals.

Kennedy said: "We are due to meet the Scots in other business in the new year and would be prepared to have more formal talks then about a possible bid for the championship. At the moment, we have held only tentative discussions about the situation. It is certainly an interesting idea."

David Taylor has admitted the 2016 competition would "stretch the capabilities" of Scotland to host the event, even in conjunction with another country.

The availability of stadiums is not the major obstacle. Glasgow has three major stadiums in Ibrox, Celtic Park and Hampden. Edinburgh has Murrayfield. Cardiff has the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff City's £48m stadium will open this year.

However, 24 teams will contest the finals of Euro 2016. This invasion of both teams and supporters places demands on the infrastructure of roads and hotel rooms.

Early indications are that two major sites both in Wales and Scotland would minimise the disruption on roads, though regular users of the M8 will protest that it would need major upgrading to provide an efficient link between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The more difficult problem is the availability of hotel rooms.

Glasgow's successful bid to win the 2014 Commonwealth Games almost foundered on the city's perceived shortness of accommodation. The Euro 2016 tournament would bring in far more spectators from abroad than the Commonwealth Games.

The question now is whether the SFA believe they should proceed to a "large-scale" feasibility study. This will certainly cost money and may invite scorn from those who remember the failed bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The attitude of the Scottish Government may also become clearer over the next few months as the idea is accompanied by details. Ministers are not blind to the realisation that such an event is capable of providing an unprecedented boost to the tourism industry long term. They are also aware, however, that they must not be attached to a proposal that is condemned to failure.

UEFA sources insist that one major country - Spain, Germany or Italy - would offer a safer option. Europe's ruling football body is still concerned over the ability of joint hosts Poland and Ukraine to meet the criteria for the 2012 tournament.

However, Scotland enjoys a reputation with UEFA as "a safe pair of hands" and was in line to rescue the European body when Switzerland seemed unlikely to meet the demands of the 2008 tournament.