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The English squad will commence their 2028 European Championship journey at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they secure the relatively straightforward qualification for a competition taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an English men’s match since the spring of 2016, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is expected to welcome the England side for their opening fixture on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The English side are set to play their last two group stage games at Wembley Stadium, but, in the event of winning Group B, their round of 16 match would be held at St James’ Park. Placing second would mean commencing the playoffs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Opening and Rally

The tournament was unveiled at an gathering in a London landmark on Wednesday night. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the organizing bodies were heckled as they approached the location by around fifty pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel to be removed from global football because of the Gaza crisis.

Placards were raised with phrases stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Schedule

The first match of the tournament will be staged at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a match that will involve the Welsh team if they make it.

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

It is anticipated that an afternoon start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will appeal to families and help engage a broader range of fans.

Host Nations

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

The national sides of all four hosts will take part in the qualification process; two automatic spots will be held in reserve for any that fail to qualify for Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Knockout Stage

Aston Villa’s stadium and Spurs’ ground complete the event’s nine venues. All will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarterfinal matches held at each country’s national stadium.

The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it became clear Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on 6 December 2026.

Tournament Vision

“This will be a tournament for the supporters and a celebration of everything we love about the sport – its emotion and capacity to bring people together.”

More than three million passes, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are anticipated to be offered to fans.