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The England national team will embark on their 2028 European Championship campaign at the the home of Manchester City, assuming they achieve the relatively straightforward entry for a championship hosted across the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

City’s stadium has not staged an England men’s game since eight years ago, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to stage the national team for their inaugural game on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The English side are planned to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, if they top the preliminary round, their knockout stage opener would take place at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Kickoff and Rally

The championship was unveiled at an event in central London on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from Uefa and the organizing bodies were barracked as they approached the site by approximately 50 activists, who urged Israel’s national side to be kicked out from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Championship Timeline

The opening game of Euro 2028 will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a match that will involve Wales if they make it.

The national stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the final, which will be played on July 9, 2028 with a kick-off time at 5pm.

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

Participating Countries

The Irish team are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would do the same at the national stadium of Scotland.

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

Stadiums and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground round out the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarter-finals played at each country’s national stadium.

The draw for the qualifiers will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was removed as a host city last year when it became clear the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.

Leadership Comment

“The event will be a tournament for the fans and a celebration of everything we value about the sport – its passion and power to unite individuals.”

In excess of three million passes, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are anticipated to be made available to supporters.