The England national team will embark on their Euro 2028 adventure at the Manchester City’s stadium, on the condition that they achieve the relatively straightforward qualification for a championship staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.
The Etihad Stadium has not staged an English men’s match since May 2016, when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is highly likely to welcome the Three Lions for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.
The team are set to play their concluding group fixtures at the national stadium, but, in the event of winning Group B, their round of 16 match would be held at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.
The tournament was inaugurated at an event in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from Uefa and the host FAs were heckled as they approached the site by about 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded Israel to be kicked out from global football because of the Gaza crisis.
Signs were displayed with phrases saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”
The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 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 played on Sunday 9 July with a commencement at 5pm.
It is expected that an earlier kick-off, which will also be used for European club finals from the upcoming season, will cater to families and help connect with a more diverse set of viewers.
The Republic of Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.
The national sides of all four hosts will enter the qualification process; two guaranteed slots will be set aside for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through that route.
Aston Villa’s stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the nine host stadiums. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarterfinal matches staged at every host’s main arena.
The draw for the qualifiers will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a host city last year when it became clear Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.
“It will be a championship for the fans and a celebration of everything we love about the game – its fervor and power to bring people together.”
In excess of three million tickets, a record for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be made available to fans.
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