🔗 Share this article

The England national team will embark on their 2028 European Championship adventure at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they secure the expected qualification for a tournament staged throughout the bulk of Britain and the Irish Republic.

Manchester City’s home ground has not hosted an Three Lions fixture since May 2016, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a friendly, but is highly likely to stage the Three Lions for their opening fixture on June 10, 2028.

The team are scheduled to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, should they win Group B, their knockout stage opener would take place at St James’ Park. Placing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Championship Opening and Protest

The championship was unveiled at an event in central London on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from Uefa and the organizing bodies were barracked as they entered the venue by around fifty protesters, who demanded Israel’s national side to be expelled from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

Signs were held up with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Schedule

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a game that will feature Wales if they qualify.

Wembley will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be held on a Sunday in July 2028 with a commencement at 5pm.

It is hoped that an afternoon start, which will also be adopted for European club finals from the upcoming season, will cater to families and help connect with a more diverse set of fans.

Host Nations

The Irish team are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and Scotland would do the same at Hampden Park.

The national sides of all four hosts will participate in the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for Euro 2028 through the qualification path.

Locations and Playoffs

Aston Villa’s stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the nine tournament locations. Every stadium will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight staged at each country’s national stadium.

The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it emerged Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on 6 December 2026.

Tournament Vision

“The event will be a competition for the fans and a celebration of everything we cherish about the football – its emotion and capacity to bring people together.”

In excess of three million tickets, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be released to supporters.