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The England national team will embark on their Euro 2028 campaign at the Etihad Stadium, on the condition that they secure the expected qualification for a championship hosted across the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an Three Lions fixture since the spring of 2016, 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 a Saturday in June 2028.

England are set to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, if they top their group, their knockout stage opener would occur at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean commencing the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Tournament Kickoff and Demonstration

The event was inaugurated at an gathering in central London on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the host football associations were confronted as they approached the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel’s national side to be kicked out from the sport because of the situation in Gaza.

Placards were raised with slogans reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while protesters chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Schedule

The first match of Euro 2028 will be held at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on Friday 9 June, a game that will feature the Dragons if they qualify.

The national stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the title decider, which will be held on Sunday 9 July with a kick-off time at 5:00 PM.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from next season, will appeal to households and help reach a more diverse set of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Ireland are due to play their initial fixture at the Aviva Stadium and Scotland would follow suit at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will take part in the qualification process; two reserved places will be set aside for any that miss out on the tournament through the standard process.

Venues and Knockout Stage

Aston Villa’s stadium and The North London arena complete the nine tournament locations. Every stadium will hold at least one knockout match, with the quarter-finals held at every host’s main arena.

The draw for the qualifiers will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it became clear the Belfast stadium could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026.

Tournament Vision

“It will be a competition for the fans and a festival of everything we value about the football – its passion and power to foster unity.”

More than three million tickets, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are anticipated to be offered to supporters.