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The English squad will embark on their 2028 European Championship adventure at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they secure the anticipated entry for a championship staged throughout most of the United Kingdom and the Ireland.

City’s stadium has not welcomed an English men’s fixture since the spring of 2016, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is almost certain to welcome the Three Lions for their inaugural game on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The team are scheduled to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, if they top the preliminary round, their round of 16 match would occur at St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the elimination stage at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Opening and Protest

The tournament was launched at an event in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from Uefa and the host FAs were barracked as they arrived the location by about 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who called for Israel’s national side to be kicked out from international football because of the conflict in Gaza.

Banners were held up with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while protesters called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Championship Fixture List

The opening game of the European Championship will be held at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a match that will feature the Welsh team if they make it.

Wembley Stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a commencement at 5pm.

It is expected that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for UEFA Champions League finals from next season, will cater to households and help engage a wider spectrum of fans.

Participating Countries

The Ireland are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would follow suit at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will participate in the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for the finals through the qualification path.

Stadiums and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground complete the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight played at every host’s main arena.

The draw for the qualifiers will be conducted in Belfast, which was dropped as a host city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on 6 December 2026.

Official Statement

“The event will be a competition for the fans and a festival of everything we value about the game – its fervor and capacity to foster unity.”

More than three million passes, a unprecedented number for a Euro tournament, are anticipated to be offered to attendees.