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The England national team will embark on their 2028 European Championship adventure at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they achieve the anticipated passage for a championship staged throughout most of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an England men’s fixture since the spring of 2016, when the visitors were defeated 2-1 in a friendly, but is expected to host the Three Lions for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are set to play their last two group stage games at Wembley Stadium, but, in the event of winning Group B, their round of 16 match would be held at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Placing second would mean starting the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Competition Opening and Protest

The tournament was launched at an event in a London landmark on the previous evening. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were barracked as they approached the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel to be kicked out from global football because of the conflict in Gaza.

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

Event Timeline

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be held at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will involve the Dragons if they qualify.

The national stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the championship match, which will be held on July 9, 2028 with a start time at late afternoon.

It is expected that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for European club finals from next season, will attract families and help reach a broader range of fans.

Host Nations

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

All four host countries’ teams will enter the qualifying tournament; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that miss out on the tournament through the qualification path.

Locations and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the nine tournament locations. All will hold at least one knockout match, with the last eight held at the national stadium of each host.

The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a tournament location last year when it was revealed Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on December 6, 2026.

Leadership Comment

“This will be a tournament for the followers and a showcase of everything we value about the football – its emotion and power to foster unity.”

More than three million passes, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are projected to be offered to attendees.