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The English squad will initiate their UEFA Euro 2028 adventure at the Etihad Stadium, on the condition that they secure the expected qualification for a championship staged throughout the bulk of Britain and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an England men’s fixture since the spring of 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to host the national team for their inaugural game on Saturday 10 June 2028.

England are planned to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, in the event of winning the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would take place at St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the knockouts at Everton’s ground.

Tournament Launch and Rally

The championship was unveiled at an event in central London on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were confronted as they entered the location by about 50 activists, who demanded the Israeli team to be removed from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.

Placards were held up with slogans reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Timeline

The opening game of the tournament will be held at the Cardiff’s stadium in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a match that will include Wales if they secure a place.

The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be staged on a Sunday in July 2028 with a kick-off time at 5:00 PM.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for Champions League finals from the following campaign, will attract family audiences and help connect with a wider spectrum of audiences.

Host Nations

The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to play their first game at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would follow suit at the national stadium of Scotland.

Each host nation’s squad will participate in the qualification process; two reserved places will be set aside for any that fail to qualify for the finals through the qualification path.

Venues and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the nine tournament locations. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarter-finals held at each country’s national stadium.

The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was removed as a venue city last year when it emerged Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.

Official Statement

“The event will be a competition for the supporters and a showcase of everything we love about the football – its fervor and ability to bring people together.”

In excess of three million tickets, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are anticipated to be released to fans.