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England’s men’s team will initiate their 2028 European Championship journey at the Manchester City’s stadium, assuming they secure the relatively straightforward qualification for a competition hosted across the majority of the UK and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an England men’s fixture since May 2016, when the visitors were overcome 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to host the Three Lions for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are scheduled to play their last two group stage games at Wembley, but, should they win the preliminary round, their knockout stage opener would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean starting the knockouts at Everton’s ground.

Tournament Kickoff and Rally

The championship was inaugurated at an ceremony in central London on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were heckled as they arrived the site by around fifty pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded Israel’s national side to be removed from global football because of the situation in Gaza.

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

Tournament Fixture List

The first match of the European Championship will be played at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will include the Welsh team if they secure a place.

The national stadium 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 late afternoon.

It is hoped that an afternoon start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from next season, will cater to families and help reach a more diverse set of viewers.

Participating Countries

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

The national sides of all four hosts will participate in the qualification process; two automatic spots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the nine tournament locations. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarter-finals played at every host’s main arena.

The draw for the qualifiers will be held in Belfast, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it was revealed the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on 6 December 2026.

Official Statement

“The event will be a championship for the fans and a festival of everything we value about the football – its emotion and power to bring people together.”

More than three million passes, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are projected to be released to fans.