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The England national team will initiate their 2028 European Championship adventure at the the home of Manchester City, on the condition that they achieve the relatively straightforward qualification for a competition staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an English men’s match since May 2016, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to welcome the Three Lions for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.

The English side are scheduled to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, in the event of winning their group, their round of 16 match would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean commencing the playoffs at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Launch and Demonstration

The championship was unveiled at an ceremony in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were barracked as they arrived the venue by around fifty activists, who urged the Israeli team to be removed from the sport because of the situation in Gaza.

Placards were displayed with messages stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Timeline

The first match of Euro 2028 will be held at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a game that will feature Wales if they make it.

Wembley will host the two semi-final matches and the title decider, which will be held on a Sunday in July 2028 with a start time at 5:00 PM.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for European club finals from the upcoming season, will attract family audiences and help reach a broader range of audiences.

Participating Countries

The Ireland are due to play their first game at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would play similarly at Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will take part in the qualification process; two reserved places will be held in reserve for any that fail to qualify for the tournament through the qualification path.

Locations and Knockout Stage

Aston Villa’s stadium and The North London arena round out the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight played at every host’s main arena.

The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was removed as a venue city last year when it emerged the Belfast stadium could not be upgraded in time, on December 6, 2026.

Tournament Vision

“The event will be a championship for the fans and a festival of everything we value about the game – its fervor and capacity to bring people together.”

More than three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a Euro tournament, are projected to be offered to attendees.