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The English squad will embark on their Euro 2028 campaign at the the home of Manchester City, on the condition that they attain the expected qualification for a championship taking place in the majority of the UK and the Ireland.

Manchester City’s home ground has not hosted an English men’s fixture since the spring of 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is almost certain to stage the national team for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.

England are scheduled to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, in the event of winning their group, their knockout stage opener would be held at St James’ Park. Placing second would mean beginning the playoffs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Kickoff and Protest

The event was launched at an event in central London on the previous evening. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the host FAs were barracked as they approached the site by around fifty activists, who urged Israel to be expelled from international football because of the conflict in Gaza.

Placards were held up with phrases saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Timeline

The inaugural fixture of the tournament will be played at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a fixture that will involve the Dragons if they make it.

Wembley Stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the title decider, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a start time at 5pm.

It is hoped that an afternoon start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the following campaign, will attract family audiences and help connect with a broader range of fans.

Qualifying Teams

The Ireland are due to play their initial fixture at the Aviva Stadium and the Tartan Army would do the same at the national stadium of Scotland.

All four host countries’ teams will participate in the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for Euro 2028 through that route.

Stadiums and Elimination Phase

Villa Park and The North London arena round out the nine tournament locations. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarter-finals played at the national stadium of each host.

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

Official Statement

“The event will be a tournament for the supporters and a festival of everything we cherish about the football – its passion and capacity to unite individuals.”

More than three million tickets, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be released to attendees.