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The England national team will commence their Euro 2028 adventure at the the home of Manchester City, on the condition that they secure the expected qualification for a championship taking place in the majority of the UK and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an England men’s game since May 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to stage the national team for their inaugural game on Saturday 10 June 2028.

England are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at the national stadium, but, in the event of winning the preliminary round, their knockout stage opener would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Placing second would mean starting the playoffs at Everton’s ground.

Competition Opening and Protest

The event was inaugurated at an ceremony in a London landmark on Wednesday night. Senior figures from Uefa and the host football associations were heckled as they approached the site by around fifty activists, who demanded Israel to be expelled from global football because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Championship Schedule

The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be held at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a match that will include the Dragons if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be staged on Sunday 9 July with a commencement at 5pm.

It is hoped that an earlier start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from next season, will appeal to families and help engage a more diverse set of audiences.

Host Nations

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their first game at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will enter the qualification process; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that fail to qualify for the tournament through the standard process.

Venues and Elimination Phase

Aston Villa’s stadium and The North London arena round out the nine host stadiums. All will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarterfinal matches played at each country’s national stadium.

The qualification draw will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a host city last year when it was revealed the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.

Leadership Comment

“The event will be a competition for the fans and a showcase of everything we cherish about the football – its fervor and capacity to unite individuals.”

More than three million tickets, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are projected to be released to supporters.