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The England national team will embark on their Euro 2028 campaign at the Manchester City’s stadium, on the condition that they achieve the relatively straightforward passage for a championship hosted across the majority of the UK and the Ireland.

Manchester City’s home ground has not staged an England men’s fixture since the spring of 2016, when the visitors were defeated 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is expected to welcome the England side for their first match on June 10, 2028.

England are set to play their last two group stage games at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win their group, their last-16 tie would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean commencing the knockouts at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Kickoff and Protest

The tournament was unveiled at an gathering in a London landmark on the previous evening. Key representatives from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were barracked as they entered the venue by about 50 activists, who called for Israel to be kicked out from the sport because of the situation in Gaza.

Banners were held up with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Timeline

The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a fixture that will feature the Welsh team if they make it.

The national stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the final, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a start time at 5pm.

It is anticipated that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for European club finals from the upcoming season, will appeal to families and help connect with a wider spectrum of audiences.

Host Nations

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.

All four host countries’ teams will participate in the qualification process; two reserved places will be set aside for any that do not reach the finals through that route.

Locations and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the nine tournament locations. Every stadium will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight played at every host’s main arena.

The qualifying draw will be conducted in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a venue city last year when it was revealed the Belfast stadium could not be redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.

Leadership Comment

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

More than three million tickets, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be offered to supporters.