England’s men’s team will initiate their 2028 European Championship adventure at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they achieve the anticipated passage for a championship hosted across the majority of the UK and the Ireland.
Manchester City’s home ground has not hosted an Three Lions game since eight years ago, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to host the England side for their opening fixture on June 10, 2028.
The English side are set to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win Group B, their last-16 tie would take place at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean starting the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The tournament was unveiled at an ceremony in central London on the previous evening. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the organizing bodies were heckled as they arrived the site by around fifty pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel’s national side to be expelled from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.
Signs were raised with phrases saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”
The inaugural fixture of the tournament will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a game that will include the Welsh team if they make it.
Wembley Stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the final, which will be held on July 9, 2028 with a kick-off time at late afternoon.
It is anticipated that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for European club finals from next season, will attract households and help engage a broader range of viewers.
The Republic of Ireland are set to play their first game at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would play similarly at Hampden Park.
All four host countries’ teams will enter the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be set aside for any that do not reach the tournament through that route.
Aston Villa’s stadium and Spurs’ ground complete the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarterfinal matches 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 emerged Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.
“This will be a competition for the supporters and a festival of everything we love about the sport – its fervor and ability to bring people together.”
More than three million passes, a unprecedented number for a Euro tournament, are expected to be released to attendees.
