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The England national team will commence their UEFA Euro 2028 adventure at the Manchester City’s stadium, provided that they achieve the relatively straightforward qualification for a competition taking place in the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an English men’s game since eight years ago, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is almost certain to welcome the Three Lions for their inaugural game on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The English side are scheduled to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, should they win their group, their last-16 tie would be held at the Newcastle stadium. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the playoffs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Launch and Rally

The event was unveiled at an event in a London landmark on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were confronted as they approached the location by about 50 protesters, who demanded the Israeli team to be removed from international football because of the situation in Gaza.

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

Event Timeline

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a game that will include the Welsh team if they make it.

The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be held on July 9, 2028 with a start time at late afternoon.

It is expected that an earlier start, which will also be adopted for European club finals from the following campaign, will attract households and help reach a broader range of audiences.

Host Nations

The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to play their first game at the Dublin Arena and the Scottish team would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.

All four host countries’ teams will participate in the qualification process; two guaranteed slots will be reserved for any that miss out on the tournament through that route.

Locations and Elimination Phase

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one knockout match, with the quarter-finals played at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be staged in Belfast, which was removed 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 followers and a showcase of everything we cherish about the football – its emotion and ability to foster unity.”

Over 3 million admissions, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be released to supporters.