🔗 Share this article

The England national team will commence their Euro 2028 journey at the Manchester City’s stadium, on the condition that they achieve the relatively straightforward passage for a championship taking place in the majority of the UK and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an England men’s game since May 2016, when the visitors were overcome 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is highly likely to host the Three Lions for their inaugural game on June 10, 2028.

The team are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the playoffs at Everton’s ground.

Championship Opening and Demonstration

The event was inaugurated at an event in a London landmark on the previous evening. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were barracked as they entered the location by around fifty pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded the Israeli team to be kicked out from the sport because of the conflict in Gaza.

Banners were raised with messages stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Fixture List

The first match of the tournament will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a match that will involve the Dragons if they qualify.

The national stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be staged on a Sunday in July 2028 with a kick-off time at late afternoon.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will appeal to family audiences and help engage a broader range of viewers.

Qualifying Teams

The Irish team are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.

The national sides of all four hosts will participate in the qualification process; two reserved places will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for the tournament through the qualification path.

Stadiums and Knockout Stage

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the nine host stadiums. Every stadium will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarter-finals held at each country’s national stadium.

The qualifying draw will be conducted in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it was revealed Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026.

Tournament Vision

“It will be a championship for the fans and a showcase of everything we cherish about the sport – its passion and capacity to bring people together.”

Over 3 million tickets, a unprecedented number for a UEFA European Championship, are projected to be made available to supporters.