🔗 Share this article

The England national team will initiate their 2028 European Championship adventure at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they attain the relatively straightforward entry for a championship staged throughout the bulk of Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

City’s stadium has not hosted an English men’s match since eight years ago, when the visitors were defeated 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is expected to welcome the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The English side are scheduled to play their last two group stage games at Wembley, but, should they win Group B, their round of 16 match would be held at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean beginning the knockouts at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Launch and Protest

The championship was launched at an event in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday night. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the organizing bodies were confronted as they arrived the site by about 50 protesters, who urged the Israeli team to be removed from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Event Fixture List

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will involve Wales if they secure a place.

The national stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the championship match, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a commencement at 5pm.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for UEFA Champions League finals from next season, will attract families and help reach a broader range of fans.

Qualifying Teams

The Republic of Ireland are due to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and Scotland would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualification process; two reserved places will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for the tournament through the qualification path.

Venues and Elimination Phase

Villa Park and The North London arena complete the event’s nine venues. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarter-finals staged at each country’s national stadium.

The qualifying draw will be conducted in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a venue city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be renovated in time, on a date in late 2026.

Tournament Vision

“This will be a tournament for the followers and a festival of everything we love about the game – its fervor and capacity to unite individuals.”

More than three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be offered to attendees.