🔗 Share this article England to Launch the European Championship 2028 Campaign at the Etihad Stadium The English squad will commence their 2028 European Championship journey at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they achieve the expected entry for a championship hosted across most of the United Kingdom and the Ireland. The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an England men’s match since eight years ago, when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is highly likely 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 Group B, their round of 16 match would be held at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Placing second would mean starting the elimination stage at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. Championship Launch and Demonstration The event was unveiled at an event in central London on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were confronted as they approached the venue by about 50 protesters, who urged Israel’s national side to be removed from the sport because of the Gaza crisis. Banners were raised with messages saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.” Tournament Schedule The first match of Euro 2028 will be staged at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will feature Wales if they make it. The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be held on July 9, 2028 with a commencement at 5pm. It is anticipated that an earlier start, which will also be used for UEFA Champions League finals from next season, will attract family audiences and help engage a more diverse set of viewers. Participating Countries The Irish team are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Dublin Arena and the Scottish team would do the same at Hampden Park. Each host nation’s squad will participate in the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach Euro 2028 through the standard process. Venues and Elimination Phase The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground complete the event’s nine venues. All will hold at least one knockout match, with the quarter-finals played at every host’s main arena. The qualifying draw will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be renovated in time, on 6 December 2026. Tournament Vision “It will be a competition for the followers and a festival of everything we cherish about the game – its passion and power to unite individuals.” More than three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be offered to supporters.