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The England national team will embark on their UEFA Euro 2028 adventure at the Manchester City’s stadium, provided that they secure the expected passage for a tournament staged throughout the bulk of Britain and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not welcomed an Three Lions game since May 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to host the Three Lions for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win Group B, their knockout stage opener would take place at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean commencing the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Championship Opening and Protest

The event was launched at an gathering in a London landmark on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were confronted as they arrived the venue by about 50 protesters, who called for Israel’s national side to be expelled from international football because of the conflict in Gaza.

Banners were held up with slogans saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while protesters shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Championship Fixture List

The first match of Euro 2028 will be held at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will include the Welsh team if they make it.

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

It is anticipated that an afternoon start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the following campaign, will cater to households and help engage a wider spectrum of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Irish team are due to play their opening match at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would follow suit at the national stadium of Scotland.

Each host nation’s squad will enter the preliminary stage; two reserved places will be set aside for any that fail to qualify for Euro 2028 through the standard process.

Venues and Elimination Phase

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the nine host stadiums. Each one will hold at least one knockout match, with the quarterfinal matches played at each country’s national stadium.

The qualifying draw will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a venue city last year when it was revealed the Belfast stadium could not be upgraded in time, on December 6, 2026.

Leadership Comment

“The event will be a tournament for the supporters and a festival of everything we cherish about the game – its emotion and power to bring people together.”

More than three million tickets, a record for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be offered to supporters.