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The England national team will commence their Euro 2028 campaign at the the home of Manchester City, assuming they secure the expected entry for a competition staged throughout the bulk of Britain and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged 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 Three Lions for their first match on June 10, 2028.

The team are set to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, in the event of winning Group B, their last-16 tie would be held at St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the elimination stage at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Opening and Rally

The event was unveiled at an ceremony in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from Uefa and the host football associations were barracked as they arrived the site by approximately 50 protesters, who urged the Israeli team to be expelled from the sport because of the Gaza crisis.

Signs were displayed with slogans saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Fixture List

The opening game of Euro 2028 will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a game that will involve the Welsh team if they qualify.

The national stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the title decider, which will be held on July 9, 2028 with a start time at 5pm.

It is anticipated that an earlier kick-off, which will also be used for UEFA Champions League finals from next season, will appeal to family audiences and help engage a wider spectrum of fans.

Participating Countries

The Irish team are scheduled to play their opening match at the Aviva Stadium and Scotland would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland.

All four host countries’ teams will enter the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach the finals through that route.

Venues and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena round out the nine host stadiums. All will hold at least one knockout match, with the quarter-finals held at each country’s national stadium.

The draw for the qualifiers will be conducted in Belfast, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it became clear the proposed venue could not be renovated in time, on December 6, 2026.

Tournament Vision

“This will be a tournament for the followers and a showcase of everything we cherish about the sport – its fervor and ability to bring people together.”

Over 3 million passes, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are anticipated to be released to supporters.