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The England national team will commence their 2028 European Championship campaign at the Manchester City’s stadium, provided that they achieve the expected qualification for a tournament hosted across the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

City’s stadium has not staged an Three Lions game since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is highly likely to welcome the Three Lions for their opening fixture on Saturday 10 June 2028.

England are planned to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, should they win Group B, their round of 16 match would be held at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the playoffs at Everton’s ground.

Competition Kickoff and Demonstration

The championship was launched at an event in a London landmark on Wednesday night. Senior figures from Uefa and the organizing bodies were barracked as they entered the site by around fifty protesters, who urged Israel’s national side to be kicked out from the sport because of the situation in Gaza.

Signs were displayed with slogans reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Championship Fixture List

The first match of the European Championship will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a match that will include the Welsh team if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the title decider, which will be played 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 adopted for Champions League finals from the following campaign, will cater to family audiences and help engage a wider spectrum of fans.

Participating Countries

The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Aviva Stadium and the Scottish team would do the same at Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will enter the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be reserved for any that miss out on the finals through the standard process.

Locations and Knockout Stage

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the nine host stadiums. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarterfinal matches played at each country’s national stadium.

The qualification draw will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it emerged Casement Park could not be renovated in time, on 6 December 2026.

Official Statement

“It will be a tournament for the followers and a festival of everything we love about the sport – its passion and capacity to foster unity.”

Over 3 million passes, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be released to supporters.