England to Start Euro 2028 Journey at City’s Home Ground
The English squad will embark on their Euro 2028 adventure at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they achieve the expected qualification for a tournament taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Ireland.
The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an Three Lions game since May 2016, when Turkey were defeated 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is almost certain to welcome the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.
The English side are set to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, in the event of winning Group B, their round of 16 match would take place at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Tournament Kickoff and Protest
The tournament was launched at an ceremony in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from Uefa and the host football associations were confronted as they arrived the location by around fifty activists, who urged Israel’s national side to be removed from international football because of the Gaza crisis.
Signs were raised with messages saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists chanted: “Kick Israel out.”
Championship Schedule
The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a match that will include the Dragons if they qualify.
Wembley will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be staged on Sunday 9 July with a start time at 5:00 PM.
It is hoped that an earlier start, which will also be used for UEFA Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will cater to households and help connect with a wider spectrum of audiences.
Qualifying Teams
The Republic of Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would follow suit at Hampden Park.
All four host countries’ teams will participate in the qualifying tournament; two automatic spots will be set aside for any that miss out on the tournament through the standard process.
Locations and Elimination Phase
The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight staged at each country’s national stadium.
The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in Belfast, which was excluded as a host city last year when it was revealed Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.
Official Statement
“This will be a championship for the fans and a festival of everything we love about the game – its emotion and ability to foster unity.”
More than three million passes, a unprecedented number for a UEFA European Championship, are anticipated to be made available to supporters.
