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The England national team will initiate their 2028 European Championship adventure at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they secure the expected entry for a competition staged throughout the bulk of Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

City’s stadium has not welcomed an England men’s fixture since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is expected to welcome the England side for their first match on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are scheduled to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, should they win their group, their round of 16 match would take place at St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the knockouts at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Kickoff and Protest

The tournament was inaugurated at an gathering in central London on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from Uefa and the organizing bodies were confronted as they arrived the location by about 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel to be kicked out from global football because of the conflict in Gaza.

Placards were raised with messages saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while protesters called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Fixture List

The first match of the European Championship will be held at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will feature the Welsh team if they qualify.

The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be held on July 9, 2028 with a start time at late afternoon.

It is expected that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for UEFA Champions League finals from the following campaign, will cater to family audiences and help connect with a broader range of audiences.

Host Nations

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their opening match at the Dublin Arena and the Scottish team would follow suit at the national stadium of Scotland.

All four host countries’ teams will enter the qualification process; two reserved places will be reserved for any that do not reach the finals through the qualification path.

Locations and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground complete the nine host stadiums. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarter-finals 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 tournament location last year when it emerged the Belfast stadium could not be redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.

Leadership Comment

“It will be a competition for the followers and a festival of everything we value about the football – its fervor and ability to unite individuals.”

More than three million tickets, a unprecedented number for a Euro tournament, are anticipated to be made available to attendees.