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The England national team will commence their 2028 European Championship adventure at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they attain the anticipated passage for a tournament staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Ireland.

City’s stadium has not hosted an English men’s game since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is almost certain to host the national team for their opening fixture on Saturday 10 June 2028.

England are scheduled to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, if they top the preliminary round, their knockout stage opener would occur at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean beginning the knockouts at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Opening and Demonstration

The championship was launched at an gathering in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from Uefa and the host FAs were barracked as they entered the venue by around fifty protesters, who demanded the Israeli team to be removed from global football because of the Gaza crisis.

Signs were held up with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Championship Schedule

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be staged at the Cardiff’s stadium in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will include the Dragons if they secure a place.

Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be played on July 9, 2028 with a kick-off time at late afternoon.

It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be adopted for European club finals from next season, will cater to family audiences and help engage a broader range of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Ireland are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would do the same at Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualification process; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that do not reach Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground finalize the nine tournament locations. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarterfinal matches held at each country’s national stadium.

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

Official Statement

“It will be a tournament for the supporters and a festival of everything we love about the game – its emotion and power to foster unity.”

In excess of three million passes, a record for a Euro tournament, are projected to be made available to fans.