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The England national team will initiate their Euro 2028 journey at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they secure the anticipated passage for a tournament taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Ireland.

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

The English side are scheduled to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, should they win the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would take place at the Newcastle stadium. Placing second would mean commencing the knockouts at Everton’s ground.

Championship Kickoff and Protest

The tournament was inaugurated at an event in central London on Wednesday night. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were barracked as they entered the location by approximately 50 activists, who called for Israel to be kicked out from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

Placards were displayed with phrases stating “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 played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a game that will involve the Welsh team if they secure a place.

Wembley will host both semi-finals and the championship match, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a start time at 5:00 PM.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the following campaign, will appeal to family audiences and help connect with a wider spectrum of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would do the same at the national stadium of Scotland.

Each host nation’s squad will take part in the qualifying tournament; two automatic spots will be set aside for any that do not reach Euro 2028 through the qualification path.

Stadiums and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena round out the nine host stadiums. All will hold at least one knockout match, with the last eight held at the national stadium of each host.

The qualification draw will be staged in Belfast, which was excluded as a tournament location last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026.

Official Statement

“This will be a competition for the fans and a celebration of everything we love about the football – its emotion and ability to unite individuals.”

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