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England’s men’s team will commence their 2028 European Championship journey at the the home of Manchester City, assuming they attain the relatively straightforward entry for a championship taking place in the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

City’s stadium has not hosted an Three Lions match since eight years ago, when Turkey were defeated 2-1 in a friendly, but is expected to stage the national team for their opening fixture on June 10, 2028.

The team are set to play their concluding group fixtures at the national stadium, but, if they top the preliminary round, their last-16 tie would take place at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the playoffs at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Launch and Demonstration

The championship was launched at an ceremony in central London on Wednesday night. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host FAs were confronted as they entered the location by approximately 50 activists, who urged Israel to be kicked out from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

Signs were raised with slogans reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Timeline

The first match of the European Championship will be staged at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will involve the Welsh team if they make it.

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

It is anticipated that an afternoon start, which will also be used for UEFA Champions League finals from next season, will attract families and help reach a more diverse set of audiences.

Host Nations

The Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and Scotland would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.

The national sides of all four hosts will participate in the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be set aside for any that do not reach the tournament through the standard process.

Locations and Elimination Phase

Villa Park and Spurs’ ground round out the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight held at every host’s main arena.

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

Tournament Vision

“This will be a championship for the supporters and a festival of everything we love about the sport – its emotion and ability to bring people together.”

More than three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a Euro tournament, are expected to be released to attendees.