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The English squad will commence their Euro 2028 adventure at the Manchester City’s stadium, provided that they secure the expected qualification for a championship staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.

Manchester City’s home ground has not staged an Three Lions match since eight years ago, when Turkey were overcome 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is highly likely to stage the Three Lions for their inaugural game on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are set to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, if they top their group, their knockout stage opener would take place at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Kickoff and Demonstration

The championship was launched at an gathering in central London on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the host football associations were confronted as they approached the site by approximately 50 activists, who called for Israel’s national side to be expelled from global football because of the conflict in Gaza.

Placards were displayed with messages reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while protesters chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Fixture List

The opening game of the tournament will be staged at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will include the Dragons if they secure a place.

Wembley 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 afternoon start, which will also be adopted for Champions League finals from next season, will appeal to households and help engage a more diverse set of viewers.

Qualifying Teams

The Ireland are set to play their opening match at the Dublin Arena and Scotland would play similarly at Hampden Park.

The national sides of all four hosts will enter the qualification process; two automatic spots will be set aside for any that fail to qualify for the finals through that route.

Locations and Knockout Stage

Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight played at the national stadium of each host.

The qualifying draw will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was excluded as a host city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on a date in late 2026.

Official Statement

“This will be a competition for the fans and a celebration of everything we cherish about the football – its passion and power to foster unity.”

More than three million admissions, a record for a men’s European Championship, are anticipated to be offered to attendees.