🔗 Share this article The Three Lions to Launch Euro 2028 Quest at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium England’s men’s team will commence their 2028 European Championship journey at the the home of Manchester City, assuming they achieve the anticipated passage for a competition taking place in the majority of the UK and the Republic of 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 host the England side for their inaugural game on June 10, 2028. The team are planned to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, if they top Group B, their knockout stage opener would occur at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Securing the runner-up spot would mean commencing the playoffs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Tournament Launch and Rally The championship was inaugurated at an ceremony in central London on Wednesday night. Key representatives from European football’s governing body and the organizing bodies were heckled as they entered the venue by approximately 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel’s national side to be expelled from global football because of the conflict in Gaza. Placards were held up with slogans reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists shouted: “Kick Israel out.” Championship Timeline The inaugural fixture of Euro 2028 will be staged at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on a Friday in June 2028, a match that will involve the Welsh team if they secure a place. Wembley will host the penultimate rounds and the title decider, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a start time at late afternoon. It is anticipated that an earlier kick-off, which will also be used for Champions League finals from next season, will appeal to family audiences and help reach a broader range of audiences. Qualifying Teams The Ireland are due to play their initial fixture at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would follow suit at the national stadium of Scotland. Each host nation’s squad will enter the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be reserved for any that miss out on Euro 2028 through the qualification path. Locations and Elimination Phase Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium round out the nine host stadiums. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight staged at the national stadium of each host. The draw for the qualifiers will be held in Belfast, which was dropped as a host city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on December 6, 2026. Tournament Vision “This will be a competition for the supporters and a festival of everything we love about the football – its passion and capacity to unite individuals.” In excess of three million admissions, a all-time high for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be offered to fans.