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The England national team will embark on their UEFA Euro 2028 journey at the Manchester City’s stadium, on the condition that they achieve the relatively straightforward entry for a tournament staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

City’s stadium has not welcomed an England men’s fixture since eight years ago, when the visitors were overcome 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to welcome the national team for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.

England are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley Stadium, but, in the event of winning the preliminary round, their knockout stage opener would be held at St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the knockouts at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Opening and Rally

The event was unveiled at an gathering in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the host FAs were barracked as they arrived the location by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel to be expelled from global football because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Tournament Schedule

The opening game of Euro 2028 will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will feature the Dragons if they secure a place.

Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be staged on Sunday 9 July with a kick-off time at 5:00 PM.

It is hoped that an earlier start, which will also be implemented for European club finals from the following campaign, will cater to families and help reach a broader range of viewers.

Host Nations

The Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would follow suit at Hampden Park.

The national sides of all four hosts will enter the qualification process; two reserved places will be set aside for any that do not reach the finals through that route.

Venues and Playoffs

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight held at the national stadium of each host.

The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it became clear Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on December 6, 2026.

Leadership Comment

“This will be a championship for the fans and a showcase of everything we value about the sport – its emotion and power to foster unity.”

More than three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be made available to attendees.