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England’s men’s team will commence their Euro 2028 campaign at the the home of Manchester City, assuming they achieve the expected passage for a championship staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an Three Lions match since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a friendly, but is almost certain to stage the Three Lions for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are scheduled to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, should they win their group, their last-16 tie would take place at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Placing second would mean starting the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Championship Opening and Protest

The championship was unveiled at an event in a London landmark on Wednesday night. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the organizing bodies were barracked as they entered the site by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded Israel’s national side to be kicked out from global football because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Championship Timeline

The opening game of Euro 2028 will be staged at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will feature the Dragons if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the championship match, which will be staged on July 9, 2028 with a kick-off time at late afternoon.

It is anticipated that an earlier start, which will also be adopted for European club finals from next season, will cater to family audiences and help connect with a more diverse set of viewers.

Qualifying Teams

The Ireland are set to play their first game at the Dublin stadium and Scotland would do the same at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will participate in the qualifying tournament; two automatic spots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach the finals through the standard process.

Stadiums and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena finalize the event’s nine venues. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight staged at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it emerged Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.

Official Statement

“It will be a championship for the supporters and a celebration of everything we cherish about the football – its emotion and capacity to bring people together.”

More than three million tickets, a all-time high for a Euro tournament, are projected to be offered to attendees.