The Three Lions to Start UEFA Euro 2028 Journey at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium

England’s men’s team will initiate their 2028 European Championship campaign at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they attain the anticipated passage for a championship taking place in most of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

City’s stadium has not staged an English men’s game since the spring of 2016, when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to host the Three Lions for their first match on a Saturday in June 2028.

The English side are planned to play their last two group stage games at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win the preliminary round, their knockout stage opener would take place at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the playoffs at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Kickoff and Protest

The tournament was inaugurated at an ceremony in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from Uefa and the organizing bodies were heckled as they arrived the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who demanded the Israeli team to be kicked out from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.

Banners were displayed with slogans saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Schedule

The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be held at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will involve the Welsh team if they secure a place.

Wembley will host both semi-finals and the championship match, which will be held on Sunday 9 July with a commencement at 5pm.

It is expected that an earlier start, which will also be used for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will attract households and help connect with a wider spectrum of audiences.

Participating Countries

The Ireland are scheduled to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would play similarly at Hampden Park.

The national sides of all four hosts will participate in the preliminary stage; two reserved places will be set aside for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through the qualification path.

Venues and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one knockout match, with the last eight held at the national stadium of each host.

The qualification draw will be conducted in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a host city last year when it became clear the Belfast stadium could not be renovated in time, on December 6, 2026.

Official Statement

“The event will be a competition for the fans and a celebration of everything we cherish about the football – its emotion and ability to unite individuals.”

Over 3 million passes, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are anticipated to be made available to attendees.