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The England national team will commence their 2028 European Championship campaign at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they secure the relatively straightforward qualification for a championship taking place in the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an England men’s game since the spring of 2016, when the visitors were overcome 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to welcome the Three Lions for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.

The English side are scheduled to play their last two group stage games at Wembley, but, should they win their group, their round of 16 match would occur at St James’ Park. Placing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Kickoff and Rally

The event was inaugurated at an gathering in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were confronted as they entered the location by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel to be kicked out from international football because of the conflict in Gaza.

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

Event Timeline

The opening game of Euro 2028 will be held at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a game that will involve the Welsh team if they qualify.

The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be staged on July 9, 2028 with a start time at 5:00 PM.

It is expected that an earlier start, which will also be adopted for European club finals from next season, will appeal to families and help engage a broader range of audiences.

Qualifying Teams

The Irish team are set to play their first game at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualification process; two automatic spots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach the tournament through the qualification path.

Locations and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground finalize the nine tournament locations. All will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight staged at the national stadium of each host.

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

Leadership Comment

“This will be a championship for the supporters and a celebration of everything we cherish about the game – its passion and ability to foster unity.”

In excess of three million tickets, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be offered to supporters.