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The English squad will commence their 2028 European Championship adventure at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they secure the relatively straightforward entry for a championship hosted across the bulk of Britain and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an England men’s game since May 2016, when Turkey were defeated 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to welcome the England side for their opening fixture on June 10, 2028.

The team 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 occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean starting the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Kickoff and Rally

The event was inaugurated at an event in a London landmark on Wednesday night. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the host football associations were confronted as they approached the venue by about 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel’s national side to be expelled from global football because of the situation in Gaza.

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

Championship Fixture List

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be held at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a game that will include the Dragons if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals and the championship match, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a commencement at 5:00 PM.

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.

Host Nations

The Ireland are set to play their opening match at the Aviva Stadium and the Scottish team would do the same at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualifying tournament; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach the finals through that route.

Venues and Playoffs

Aston Villa’s stadium and Spurs’ ground complete the nine host stadiums. All will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight staged at each country’s national stadium.

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

Tournament Vision

“The event will be a tournament for the followers and a festival of everything we cherish about the football – its fervor and ability to foster unity.”

Over 3 million passes, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are anticipated to be released to supporters.