🔗 Share this article

The England national team will initiate their Euro 2028 adventure at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they attain the anticipated entry for a tournament taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an Three Lions game since May 2016, when Turkey were defeated 2-1 in a friendly, but is almost certain to stage the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

England are set to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win the preliminary round, their round of 16 match would occur at St James’ Park. Placing second would mean beginning the knockouts at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Launch and Protest

The event was unveiled at an gathering in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday night. High-ranking officials from Uefa and the host FAs were heckled as they arrived the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded Israel to be removed from the sport because of the conflict in Gaza.

Banners were held up with messages saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while protesters shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Schedule

The opening game of the European Championship will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will feature the Welsh team if they make it.

Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be staged on Sunday 9 July with a start time at 5pm.

It is anticipated that an afternoon start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will appeal to families and help reach a more diverse set of audiences.

Qualifying Teams

The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Aviva Stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will enter the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for the finals through the qualification path.

Venues and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena complete the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarter-finals held at each country’s national stadium.

The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was dropped as a host city last year when it became clear the Belfast stadium could not be upgraded in time, on December 6, 2026.

Official Statement

“The event will be a competition for the followers and a showcase of everything we cherish about the game – its passion and capacity to foster unity.”

In excess of three million admissions, a record for a Euro tournament, are expected to be offered to fans.