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The England national team will initiate their 2028 European Championship adventure at the the home of Manchester City, on the condition that they attain the relatively straightforward passage for a tournament staged throughout most of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an English 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 England side for their first match on June 10, 2028.

The team are set to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, should they win Group B, their last-16 tie would occur at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean commencing the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Opening and Rally

The championship was inaugurated at an gathering in central London on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were heckled as they entered the site by about 50 activists, who demanded Israel’s national side to be kicked out from the sport because of the situation in Gaza.

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

Event Fixture List

The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will feature Wales if they make it.

Wembley will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be held on July 9, 2028 with a start time at 5pm.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for European club finals from next season, will attract families and help engage a more diverse set of fans.

Qualifying Teams

The Ireland are scheduled to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualification process; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Playoffs

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the event’s nine venues. All will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarterfinal matches played at the national stadium of each host.

The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.

Leadership Comment

“The event will be a championship for the followers and a showcase of everything we value about the football – its passion and power to unite individuals.”

More than three million admissions, a all-time high for a UEFA European Championship, are expected to be made available to supporters.