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The English squad will embark on their Euro 2028 campaign at the Manchester City’s stadium, provided that they attain the expected entry for a competition taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an English men’s fixture since May 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to host the England side for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.

The English side are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at the national stadium, but, should they win Group B, their last-16 tie would be held at St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the knockouts at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Kickoff and Demonstration

The event was launched at an ceremony in a London landmark on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the host football associations were confronted as they arrived the site by around fifty activists, who called for the Israeli team to be expelled from the sport because of the conflict in Gaza.

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

Championship Timeline

The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be played at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a match that will feature the Welsh team if they secure a place.

Wembley will host both semi-finals and the title decider, which will be staged on a Sunday in July 2028 with a kick-off time at 5:00 PM.

It is expected that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for UEFA Champions League finals from the following campaign, will appeal to family audiences and help engage a broader range of fans.

Qualifying Teams

The Republic of Ireland are due to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and Scotland would play similarly at Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will enter the qualifying tournament; two reserved places will be held in reserve for any that miss out on the finals through that route.

Locations and Knockout Stage

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarterfinal matches played at the national stadium of each host.

The qualification draw will be conducted in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it became clear the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026.

Official Statement

“It will be a tournament for the fans and a celebration of everything we value about the football – its emotion and capacity to foster unity.”

Over 3 million admissions, a all-time high for a Euro tournament, are projected to be offered to supporters.