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The England national team will commence their UEFA Euro 2028 journey at the the home of Manchester City, on the condition that they secure the relatively straightforward passage for a championship taking place in most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

Manchester City’s home ground has not hosted an English men’s fixture since the spring of 2016, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is expected to welcome the Three Lions for their first match on Saturday 10 June 2028.

England are planned 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 occur at St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean commencing the elimination stage at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Kickoff and Rally

The event was unveiled at an ceremony in central London on Wednesday night. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were heckled as they arrived the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel’s national side to be removed from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

Placards were displayed with phrases reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Schedule

The first match of Euro 2028 will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a match that will feature the Dragons if they qualify.

The national stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the title decider, which will be staged on July 9, 2028 with a start time at late afternoon.

It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be implemented for UEFA Champions League finals from next season, will cater to households and help reach a broader range of viewers.

Host Nations

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin Arena and Scotland would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualifying tournament; two reserved places will be reserved for any that do not reach the tournament through the qualification path.

Locations and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarterfinal matches played at the national stadium of each host.

The draw for the qualifiers will be conducted in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a host city last year when it became clear Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on 6 December 2026.

Leadership Comment

“It will be a championship for the supporters and a celebration of everything we cherish about the football – its passion and capacity to foster unity.”

Over 3 million tickets, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are expected to be released to fans.