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The England national team will initiate their Euro 2028 adventure at the Manchester City’s stadium, assuming they secure the relatively straightforward passage for a tournament taking place in most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

Manchester City’s home ground has not hosted an England men’s match since May 2016, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to welcome the Three Lions for their inaugural game on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The English side are set to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, in the event of winning the preliminary round, their knockout stage opener would take place at the Newcastle stadium. Placing second would mean commencing the knockouts at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Kickoff and Protest

The tournament was launched at an event in central London on the previous evening. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were confronted as they approached the location by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel to be kicked out from global football because of the conflict in Gaza.

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

Championship Schedule

The opening game of the tournament will be played at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will involve Wales if they qualify.

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

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

Host Nations

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

The national sides of all four hosts will enter the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that do not reach Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Playoffs

Aston Villa’s stadium and The North London arena round out the nine tournament locations. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight played at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be conducted in Belfast, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it emerged the Belfast stadium could not be renovated in time, on 6 December 2026.

Official Statement

“It will be a competition for the fans and a celebration of everything we value about the sport – its fervor and ability to foster unity.”

Over 3 million tickets, a unprecedented number for a UEFA European Championship, are expected to be offered to attendees.