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The English squad will embark on their Euro 2028 campaign at the Manchester City’s stadium, assuming they secure the expected entry for a championship taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an English men’s fixture since eight years ago, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is almost certain to stage the national team for their first match on June 10, 2028.

The team are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley Stadium, but, in the event of winning their group, their round of 16 match would be held at the Newcastle stadium. Finishing second would mean commencing the playoffs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Launch and Rally

The tournament was launched at an ceremony in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from Uefa and the host football associations were barracked as they entered the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel to be expelled from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.

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

Event Timeline

The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be staged at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a match that will include Wales if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host the two semi-final matches and the championship match, which will be held on Sunday 9 July with a commencement at late afternoon.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be implemented for European club finals from the upcoming season, will attract families and help connect with a broader range of fans.

Qualifying Teams

The Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would follow suit at Hampden Park.

The national sides of all four hosts will take part in the qualifying tournament; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that miss out on the tournament through the standard process.

Stadiums and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground round out the nine host stadiums. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarterfinal matches held at the national stadium of each host.

The draw for the qualifiers will be conducted in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026.

Leadership Comment

“This will be a tournament for the followers and a showcase of everything we cherish about the sport – its emotion and power to foster unity.”

In excess of three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be released to supporters.