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The England national team will embark on their Euro 2028 journey at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they achieve the expected entry for a championship hosted across most of the United Kingdom and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an England men’s game since the spring of 2016, when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is highly likely to stage the England side for their opening fixture on June 10, 2028.

The team are set to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, if they top their group, their last-16 tie would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Championship Launch and Protest

The championship was inaugurated at an ceremony in a London landmark on the previous evening. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were confronted as they approached the venue by about 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel to be kicked out from international football because of the situation in Gaza.

Placards were raised with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Fixture List

The first match of the tournament will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a game that will include the Welsh team if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a kick-off time at 5:00 PM.

It is expected that an earlier start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will cater to families and help reach a broader range of fans.

Qualifying Teams

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their opening match at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would follow suit at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will participate in the qualification process; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for the finals through the standard process.

Venues and Elimination Phase

Aston Villa’s stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the nine host stadiums. All will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight staged at each country’s national stadium.

The qualification draw will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was removed as a venue city last year when it became clear Casement Park could not be renovated in time, on December 6, 2026.

Official Statement

“This will be a championship for the fans and a celebration of everything we value about the football – its passion and capacity to unite individuals.”

In excess of three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a Euro tournament, are anticipated to be made available to attendees.