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The England national team will embark on their Euro 2028 journey at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they achieve the anticipated qualification for a tournament taking place in the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an Three Lions game since the spring of 2016, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a friendly, but is expected to welcome the Three Lions for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The English side are planned to play their last two group stage games at Wembley Stadium, but, in the event of winning Group B, their knockout stage opener would be held at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean beginning the playoffs at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Opening and Demonstration

The event was unveiled at an ceremony in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. Senior figures from Uefa and the host FAs were heckled as they approached the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded the Israeli team to be kicked out from global football because of the conflict in Gaza.

Signs were raised with phrases saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Timeline

The inaugural fixture of the tournament will be played at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will feature Wales if they secure a place.

Wembley will host both semi-finals and the championship match, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a start time at 5pm.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the following campaign, will appeal to family audiences and help engage a more diverse set of viewers.

Host Nations

The Ireland are due to play their first game at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would do the same at Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will take part in the qualification process; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach the tournament through that route.

Venues and Elimination Phase

Aston Villa’s stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the nine tournament locations. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight played at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was removed as a tournament location last year when it emerged Casement Park 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 cherish about the sport – its passion and ability to foster unity.”

Over 3 million admissions, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are anticipated to be offered to attendees.