England’s men’s team will commence their UEFA Euro 2028 campaign at the the home of Manchester City, on the condition that they secure the expected qualification for a tournament staged throughout most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.
City’s stadium has not staged an Three Lions match since eight years ago, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to welcome the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.
The English side are set to play their concluding group fixtures at the national stadium, but, should they win their group, their knockout stage opener would occur at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean starting the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The championship was launched at an ceremony in a London landmark on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were confronted as they approached the site by approximately 50 activists, who called for Israel to be expelled from international football because of the Gaza crisis.
Signs were held up with phrases stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists shouted: “Kick Israel out.”
The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a match that will include the Dragons if they qualify.
Wembley Stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the championship match, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a start time at late afternoon.
It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for UEFA Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will cater to family audiences and help engage a more diverse set of fans.
The Republic of Ireland are set to play their first game at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would do the same at Hampden Park.
All four host countries’ teams will enter the qualifying tournament; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through the standard process.
Aston Villa’s stadium and The North London arena finalize the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight held at every host’s main arena.
The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in Belfast, which was excluded as a host city last year when it became clear the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.
“This will be a competition for the supporters and a showcase of everything we love about the football – its emotion and capacity to foster unity.”
More than three million passes, a unprecedented number for a UEFA European Championship, are projected to be released to supporters.
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