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The English squad will embark on their 2028 European Championship adventure at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they achieve the anticipated entry for a tournament staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.

City’s stadium has not welcomed an English men’s match since the spring of 2016, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a friendly, but is highly likely to stage the Three Lions for their inaugural game on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The team are scheduled 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 ground.

Competition Opening and Rally

The event was inaugurated at an gathering in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from European football’s governing body and the host FAs were confronted as they approached the location by approximately 50 protesters, who called for the Israeli team to be kicked out from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

Placards were held up with slogans reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Fixture List

The first match of the tournament will be staged at the Cardiff’s stadium in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will feature the Welsh team if they secure a place.

The national stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be held on Sunday 9 July with a kick-off time at 5pm.

It is hoped that an earlier start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from next season, will appeal to families and help reach a broader range of audiences.

Qualifying Teams

The Irish team are set to play their opening match at the Aviva Stadium and the Scottish team would play similarly at Hampden Park.

All four host countries’ teams will take part in the qualification process; two automatic spots will be set aside for any that miss out on the tournament through the standard process.

Locations and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground complete the nine tournament locations. All will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight held at every host’s main arena.

The qualifying 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 redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.

Leadership Comment

“It will be a competition for the fans and a showcase of everything we love about the football – its fervor and capacity to unite individuals.”

Over 3 million admissions, a record for a UEFA European Championship, are expected to be made available to attendees.