🔗 Share this article

The English squad will embark on their UEFA Euro 2028 journey at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they attain the expected qualification for a competition hosted across the bulk of Britain and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an English men’s game since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were defeated 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is highly likely to welcome the Three Lions for their opening fixture on June 10, 2028.

The English side are set to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, should they win Group B, their round of 16 match would take place at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean commencing the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Opening and Rally

The championship was unveiled at an event in a London landmark on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the host football associations were heckled as they entered the venue by around fifty activists, who demanded Israel to be removed from international football because of the conflict in Gaza.

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

Championship Timeline

The opening game of Euro 2028 will be played at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a match that will involve Wales if they secure a place.

Wembley will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be played on July 9, 2028 with a commencement at late afternoon.

It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be implemented for European club finals from next season, will cater to family audiences and help connect with a broader range of viewers.

Qualifying Teams

The Ireland are due to play their first game at the Dublin Arena and Scotland would play similarly at Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will participate in the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Playoffs

Aston Villa’s stadium and Spurs’ ground finalize the nine tournament locations. All will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight staged at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it became clear the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on 6 December 2026.

Tournament Vision

“This will be a championship for the supporters and a festival of everything we love about the game – its emotion and ability to foster unity.”

More than three million admissions, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be made available to fans.