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The England national team will commence their UEFA Euro 2028 adventure at the Manchester City’s stadium, assuming they secure the anticipated entry for a championship hosted across the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an England men’s fixture since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to welcome the national team for their opening fixture on Saturday 10 June 2028.

England are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, should they win the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would take place at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Placing second would mean starting the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Championship Launch and Demonstration

The tournament was launched at an ceremony in central London on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from the tournament organizers and the host football associations were heckled as they arrived the site by approximately 50 protesters, who urged Israel to be kicked out from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Event Timeline

The first match of the tournament will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a game that will include the Welsh team if they make it.

Wembley will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a start time at 5pm.

It is expected that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for European club finals from the following campaign, will attract families and help engage a wider spectrum of viewers.

Qualifying Teams

The Ireland are due to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will participate in the preliminary stage; two reserved places will be reserved for any that miss out on the tournament through the standard process.

Venues and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the nine tournament locations. Every stadium will hold at least one knockout match, with the quarter-finals staged at each country’s national stadium.

The qualification draw will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it became clear the Belfast stadium could not be renovated in time, on 6 December 2026.

Tournament Vision

“It will be a tournament for the followers and a festival of everything we cherish about the football – its fervor and power to foster unity.”

More than three million admissions, a record for a Euro tournament, are anticipated to be released to attendees.