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The England national team will initiate their 2028 European Championship campaign at the Etihad Stadium, on the condition that they secure the relatively straightforward entry for a competition staged throughout most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

Manchester City’s home ground has not staged an England men’s fixture since the spring of 2016, when the visitors were overcome 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to welcome the Three Lions for their first match on June 10, 2028.

England are scheduled to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley Stadium, but, if they top Group B, their round of 16 match would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean commencing the elimination stage at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Opening and Demonstration

The tournament was unveiled at an gathering in central London on the previous evening. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were heckled as they entered the site by approximately 50 activists, who urged Israel’s national side to be removed from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

Signs were raised with messages stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Fixture List

The first match of the European Championship will be staged at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a fixture that will involve Wales if they make it.

Wembley will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a kick-off time at 5pm.

It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be adopted for European club finals from the following campaign, will attract family audiences and help reach a more diverse set of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their first game at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would follow suit at the national stadium of Scotland.

Each host nation’s squad will participate in the qualifying tournament; two guaranteed slots will be set aside for any that fail to qualify for the finals through the standard process.

Stadiums and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 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 staged in Belfast, which was dropped as a venue city last year when it became clear the proposed venue could not be renovated in time, on December 6, 2026.

Leadership Comment

“It will be a championship for the supporters and a festival of everything we value about the game – its passion and ability to foster unity.”

In excess of three million tickets, a all-time high for a Euro tournament, are projected to be offered to supporters.