England to Begin Euro 2028 Campaign at City’s Home Ground
The English squad will commence their UEFA Euro 2028 campaign at the the home of Manchester City, on the condition that they attain the relatively straightforward qualification for a tournament taking place in the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
City’s stadium has not hosted an Three Lions match since May 2016, when the Turkish team were defeated 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to welcome the national team for their first match on Saturday 10 June 2028.
The English side are planned to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, if they top Group B, their round of 16 match would occur at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean commencing the playoffs at Everton’s ground.
Tournament Launch and Rally
The championship was inaugurated at an event in a London landmark on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the host football associations were barracked as they arrived the venue by about 50 activists, who urged Israel to be expelled from the sport because of the conflict in Gaza.
Banners were held up with phrases reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists chanted: “Kick Israel out.”
Championship Timeline
The first match of the European Championship will be held at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a fixture that will involve the Dragons if they qualify.
The national stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the title decider, which will be played on July 9, 2028 with a kick-off time at 5pm.
It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be used for UEFA Champions League finals from the following campaign, will appeal to families and help reach a broader range of audiences.
Qualifying Teams
The Irish team are scheduled to play their first game at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would do the same at Hampden Park.
The national sides of all four hosts will enter the qualifying tournament; two reserved places will be set aside for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through the qualification path.
Venues and Knockout Stage
The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground complete the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight held at the national stadium of each host.
The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was dropped as a host city last year when it emerged Casement Park could not be renovated in time, on December 6, 2026.
Official Statement
“It will be a tournament for the fans and a showcase of everything we love about the game – its fervor and ability to foster unity.”
More than three million admissions, a all-time high for a UEFA European Championship, are projected to be made available to supporters.
