🔗 Share this article England to Start UEFA Euro 2028 Journey at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium The English squad will embark on their Euro 2028 campaign at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they achieve the relatively straightforward entry for a competition taking place in most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic. Manchester City’s home ground has not hosted an Three Lions fixture since May 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to host the England side for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028. The English side are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, in the event of winning Group B, their last-16 tie would take place at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean commencing the playoffs at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. Tournament Kickoff and Demonstration The event was inaugurated at an event in a London landmark on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were barracked as they arrived the site by approximately 50 protesters, who demanded Israel’s national side to be expelled from global football because of the situation in Gaza. Signs were displayed with slogans saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators chanted: “Kick Israel out.” Championship Schedule The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be held at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a match that will feature the Dragons if they secure a place. The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a commencement at 5pm. It is hoped that an earlier start, which will also be used for UEFA Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will appeal to households and help connect with a more diverse set of viewers. Qualifying Teams The Irish team are set to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and Scotland would play similarly at Glasgow’s Hampden Park. The national sides of all four hosts will enter the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach the tournament through the standard process. Venues and Knockout Stage Aston Villa’s stadium and Spurs’ ground finalize the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight staged at the national stadium of each host. The draw for the qualifiers will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a tournament location last year when it was revealed Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time, on 6 December 2026. Official Statement “It will be a competition for the supporters and a festival of everything we love about the game – its emotion and ability to bring people together.” In excess of three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be offered to attendees.