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England’s men’s team will initiate their Euro 2028 campaign at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they achieve the expected qualification for a tournament taking place in the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.

Manchester City’s home ground has not staged an Three Lions match since eight years ago, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is expected to host the national team for their inaugural game on June 10, 2028.

The team are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, if they top their group, their last-16 tie would be held at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the playoffs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Kickoff and Protest

The tournament was launched at an ceremony in central London on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from European football’s governing body and the host FAs were barracked as they entered the location by around fifty pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded Israel’s national side to be removed from international football because of the situation in Gaza.

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

Tournament Timeline

The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be staged at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will involve Wales if they make it.

The national stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a start time at late afternoon.

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

Participating Countries

The Irish team are set to play their first game at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would do the same at Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will participate in the qualification process; two automatic spots will be set aside for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through the qualification path.

Stadiums and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena complete the event’s nine venues. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight played at the national stadium of each host.

The draw for the qualifiers will be staged in the Northern Irish capital, which was removed as a tournament location last year when it became clear Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time, on December 6, 2026.

Official Statement

“It will be a competition for the followers and a celebration of everything we cherish about the football – its passion and power to foster unity.”

More than three million passes, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be made available to attendees.