🔗 Share this article England to Launch UEFA Euro 2028 Campaign at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium The English squad will embark on their 2028 European Championship journey at the Etihad Stadium, on the condition that they attain the anticipated qualification for a tournament hosted across the bulk of Britain and the Irish Republic. Manchester City’s home ground has not staged an England men’s game since eight years ago, when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is highly likely to stage the England side for their first match on a Saturday in June 2028. The English side are scheduled to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, should they win the preliminary round, their round of 16 match would occur at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean beginning the playoffs at Everton’s ground. Tournament Launch and Protest The championship was launched at an gathering in Piccadilly Circus on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the host FAs were heckled as they approached the site by approximately 50 activists, who demanded the Israeli team to be kicked out from the sport because of the Gaza crisis. Signs were raised with slogans stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists called out: “Kick Israel out.” Championship Schedule The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be staged at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a fixture that will feature the Welsh team if they make it. The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the championship match, which will be played on July 9, 2028 with a kick-off time at 5pm. It is expected that an afternoon start, which will also be used for European club finals from the upcoming season, will cater to family audiences and help connect with a more diverse set of viewers. Qualifying Teams The Ireland are due to play their first game at the Dublin stadium and the Scottish team would follow suit at Hampden Park. The national sides of all four hosts will enter the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be set aside for any that fail to qualify for the finals through the standard process. Stadiums and Playoffs The Birmingham venue and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finalize the event’s nine venues. All 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 Belfast, which was removed as a tournament location last year when it emerged the Belfast stadium could not be renovated in time, on December 6, 2026. Tournament Vision “The event will be a competition for the fans and a festival of everything we love about the football – its emotion and power to unite individuals.” More than three million passes, a all-time high for a UEFA European Championship, are anticipated to be released to supporters.