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The English squad will initiate their 2028 European Championship journey at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they achieve the relatively straightforward qualification for a championship taking place in most of the United Kingdom and the Ireland.

Manchester City’s home ground has not welcomed an England men’s fixture since May 2016, when Turkey were defeated 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to stage the England side for their opening fixture on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The English side are set to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, in the event of winning the preliminary round, their round of 16 match would take place at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean beginning the playoffs at Everton’s ground.

Tournament Kickoff and Rally

The event was launched at an event in a London landmark on the previous evening. Senior figures from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were barracked as they arrived the venue by around fifty protesters, who called for the Israeli team to be removed from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Championship Timeline

The first match of the European Championship will be staged at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will include Wales if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the championship match, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a start time at 5pm.

It is hoped that an afternoon start, which will also be adopted for European club finals from next season, will cater to families and help connect with a wider spectrum of fans.

Participating Countries

The Ireland are set to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.

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

Venues and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena finalize the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarter-finals held at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was excluded as a host city last year when it was revealed the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on December 6, 2026.

Official Statement

“This will be a tournament for the fans and a festival of everything we value about the sport – its emotion and capacity to unite individuals.”

In excess of three million passes, a all-time high for a Euro tournament, are projected to be offered to attendees.