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England’s men’s team will commence their 2028 European Championship journey at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they attain the anticipated entry for a championship hosted across the bulk of Britain and the Ireland.

Manchester City’s home ground has not welcomed an English men’s game since eight years ago, when the visitors were defeated 2-1 in a friendly, but is expected to welcome the national team for their opening fixture on Saturday 10 June 2028.

England are scheduled to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, in the event of winning Group B, their knockout stage opener would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the playoffs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Kickoff and Demonstration

The event was launched at an gathering in a London landmark on the previous evening. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were confronted as they approached the venue by about 50 protesters, who called for the Israeli team to be kicked out from global football because of the Gaza crisis.

Placards were held up with messages saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Schedule

The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in Cardiff, on Friday 9 June, a match that will feature the Dragons if they qualify.

The national stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the title decider, which will be held on Sunday 9 July with a kick-off time at late afternoon.

It is anticipated that an earlier start, which will also be used for Champions League finals from next season, will appeal to family audiences and help reach a wider spectrum of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their opening match at the Aviva Stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will enter the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be set aside for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through that route.

Locations and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena complete the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarterfinal matches staged at every host’s main arena.

The qualifying draw will be held in Belfast, which was dropped as a host city last year when it became clear Casement Park could not be renovated in time, on 6 December 2026.

Official Statement

“The event will be a competition for the supporters and a showcase of everything we value about the football – its fervor and ability to bring people together.”

Over 3 million admissions, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be made available to supporters.