🔗 Share this article

The English squad will commence their 2028 European Championship adventure at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they secure the relatively straightforward entry for a competition taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

City’s stadium has not staged an English men’s game since the spring of 2016, when Turkey were overcome 2-1 in a friendly, but is almost certain to host the Three Lions for their opening fixture on June 10, 2028.

The English side are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley Stadium, but, if they top the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would be held at the Newcastle stadium. Securing the runner-up spot would mean commencing the knockouts at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Opening and Protest

The tournament was inaugurated at an event in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from Uefa and the host FAs were confronted as they approached the site by about 50 activists, who demanded Israel’s national side to be expelled from the sport because of the conflict in Gaza.

Signs were held up with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Championship Fixture List

The opening game of the tournament will be held at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a match that will feature Wales 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 5pm.

It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be adopted for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will attract family audiences and help engage a wider spectrum of fans.

Qualifying Teams

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would follow suit at Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will enter the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be reserved for any that do not reach the finals through that route.

Locations and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize 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 held in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a tournament location last year when it was revealed the Belfast stadium could not be renovated in time, on a date in late 2026.

Leadership Comment

“This will be a championship for the fans and a showcase of everything we value about the football – its passion and capacity to unite individuals.”

More than three million passes, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be made available to fans.