🔗 Share this article The Three Lions to Begin Euro 2028 Journey at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium The England national team will embark on their Euro 2028 campaign at the Manchester City’s stadium, provided that they achieve the expected qualification for a competition hosted across the majority of the UK and the Ireland. City’s stadium has not staged an England men’s fixture since May 2016, when the Turkish team were defeated 2-1 in a friendly, but is almost certain to stage the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028. England are scheduled to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, if they top their group, their knockout stage opener would be held at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the elimination stage at Everton’s ground. Competition Launch and Demonstration The tournament was launched at an ceremony in a London landmark on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from the tournament organizers and the host FAs were heckled as they arrived the location by around fifty pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged the Israeli team to be expelled from global football because of the Gaza crisis. Banners were held up with phrases saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists chanted: “Kick Israel out.” Tournament Timeline The inaugural fixture of the tournament will be held at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will include Wales if they secure a place. Wembley will host the penultimate rounds and the championship match, which will be staged on a Sunday in July 2028 with a kick-off time at 5pm. It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be used for European club finals from the upcoming season, will cater to family audiences and help reach a more diverse set of audiences. Participating Countries The Irish team are scheduled to play their opening match at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would follow suit at Hampden Park. The national sides of all four hosts will take part in the qualifying tournament; two reserved places will be set aside for any that miss out on the tournament through the qualification path. Venues and Elimination Phase Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the nine tournament locations. All will hold at least one knockout match, with the last eight held at each country’s national stadium. The qualifying draw will be staged in Belfast, which was removed as a tournament location last year when it was revealed the Belfast stadium could not be renovated in time, on 6 December 2026. Tournament Vision “This will be a championship for the followers and a showcase of everything we love about the football – its fervor and capacity to bring people together.” More than three million passes, a record for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be made available to attendees.