England to Start Euro 2028 Campaign at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium
The English squad will initiate their Euro 2028 journey at the Etihad Stadium, on the condition that they attain the relatively straightforward qualification for a championship hosted across most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.
Manchester City’s home ground has not hosted an Three Lions match since May 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to stage the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.
The English side are set to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win Group B, their last-16 tie would be held at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Competition Kickoff and Rally
The championship was launched at an event in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday night. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were confronted as they approached the location by around fifty protesters, who demanded Israel to be kicked out from international football because of the Gaza crisis.
Banners were displayed with phrases stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators called out: “Kick Israel out.”
Tournament Fixture List
The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be staged at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on Friday 9 June, a fixture that will involve Wales if they secure a place.
Wembley will host the two semi-final matches and the final, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a start time at late afternoon.
It is anticipated that an earlier start, which will also be implemented for UEFA Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will attract family audiences and help engage a broader range of viewers.
Participating Countries
The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.
The national sides of all four hosts will take part in the qualifying tournament; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that miss out on the finals through the standard process.
Stadiums and Elimination Phase
Aston Villa’s stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the event’s nine venues. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarter-finals staged at every host’s main arena.
The qualification draw will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was removed as a tournament location last year when it became clear the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.
Official Statement
“This will be a competition for the followers and a celebration of everything we love about the game – its emotion and power to bring people together.”
Over 3 million passes, a all-time high for a Euro tournament, are anticipated to be offered to fans.
