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The England national team will commence their Euro 2028 adventure at the Manchester City’s stadium, assuming they attain the anticipated qualification for a tournament hosted across the bulk of Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an England men’s fixture since May 2016, when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to host the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are planned to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, if they top the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would take place at the Newcastle stadium. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the elimination stage at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Opening and Rally

The tournament was unveiled at an ceremony in a London landmark on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were barracked as they entered the site by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel’s national side to be removed from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Championship Schedule

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be staged at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will involve Wales if they secure a place.

Wembley Stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the championship match, which will be held on a Sunday in July 2028 with a commencement at late afternoon.

It is expected that an earlier start, which will also be implemented for UEFA Champions League finals from the following campaign, will cater to households and help connect with a more diverse set of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Irish team are scheduled to play their opening match at the Aviva Stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualifying tournament; 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 Spurs’ ground finalize the nine tournament locations. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarter-finals staged at every host’s main arena.

The draw for the qualifiers will be conducted in Belfast, which was excluded as a host city last year when it was revealed Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on 6 December 2026.

Tournament Vision

“The event will be a tournament for the fans and a showcase of everything we love about the game – its fervor and ability to unite individuals.”

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