🔗 Share this article The Three Lions to Begin Euro 2028 Quest at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium England’s men’s team will commence their UEFA Euro 2028 campaign at the Manchester City’s stadium, assuming they secure the expected qualification for a tournament staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic. Manchester City’s home ground has not staged an Three Lions match since the spring of 2016, when Turkey were defeated 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is highly likely to host the national team for their first match on a Saturday in June 2028. England are scheduled to play their final two group matches at the national stadium, but, should they win their group, their last-16 tie would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Placing second would mean beginning the knockouts at Everton’s ground. Tournament Opening and Rally The championship was inaugurated at an gathering in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. Senior figures from European football’s governing body and the host FAs were confronted as they entered the venue by approximately 50 activists, who called for Israel to be expelled from international football because of the Gaza crisis. Signs were raised with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.” Event Fixture List The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be staged at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a match that will feature the Dragons if they make it. The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a start time at 5:00 PM. It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be used for UEFA Champions League finals from the following campaign, will appeal to families and help connect with a broader range of fans. Qualifying Teams The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to play their first game at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would do the same at the national stadium of Scotland. The national sides of all four hosts will participate in the qualification process; two reserved places will be held in reserve for any that fail to qualify for Euro 2028 through the standard process. Stadiums and Playoffs Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the nine tournament locations. All will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarter-finals played at each country’s national stadium. The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was dropped as a host city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026. Leadership Comment “It will be a championship for the fans and a festival of everything we love about the football – its fervor and power to bring people together.” In excess of three million passes, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are anticipated to be offered to fans.