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England’s men’s team will commence their UEFA Euro 2028 adventure at the the home of Manchester City, assuming they secure the anticipated passage for a tournament staged throughout most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an England men’s fixture since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were defeated 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to host the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are planned to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, if they top the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would take place at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean commencing the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Kickoff and Protest

The tournament was inaugurated at an event in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the organizing bodies were barracked as they entered the venue by approximately 50 protesters, who urged the Israeli team to be expelled from international football because of the conflict in Gaza.

Placards were raised with phrases stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Schedule

The first match of the tournament will be played at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a fixture that will feature the Dragons if they secure a place.

The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a start time at late afternoon.

It is expected that an earlier kick-off, which will also be used for European club finals from next season, will cater to families and help reach a wider spectrum of fans.

Participating Countries

The Irish team are set to play their opening match at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would play similarly at Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will take part in the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena round out the nine host stadiums. All will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarterfinal matches played at each country’s national stadium.

The qualifying draw will be conducted in Belfast, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it was revealed the Belfast stadium could not be redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.

Leadership Comment

“This will be a tournament for the fans and a celebration of everything we value about the football – its emotion and ability to unite individuals.”

Over 3 million admissions, a all-time high for a UEFA European Championship, are projected to be offered to attendees.