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The England national team will commence their Euro 2028 journey at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they secure the relatively straightforward entry for a competition taking place in the bulk of Britain and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an Three Lions game since the spring of 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is highly likely to stage the Three Lions for their first match on a Saturday in June 2028.

England are scheduled to play their final two group matches at Wembley, but, in the event of winning their group, their knockout stage opener would be held at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the playoffs at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Competition Launch and Rally

The event was unveiled at an gathering in central London on Wednesday evening. Senior figures from Uefa and the host FAs were barracked as they approached the site by about 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel’s national side to be removed from global football because of the situation in Gaza.

Banners were displayed with phrases reading “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while activists called out: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Timeline

The first match of the European Championship will be staged at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a game that will involve the Dragons if they qualify.

Wembley Stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be staged on Sunday 9 July with a kick-off time at 5:00 PM.

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

Host Nations

The Irish team are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would do the same at Hampden Park.

The national sides of all four hosts will take part in the preliminary stage; two automatic spots will be reserved for any that fail to qualify for the tournament through the standard process.

Locations and Elimination Phase

Aston Villa’s stadium and The North London arena complete the event’s nine venues. Every stadium will hold at least one knockout match, with the quarterfinal matches held at every host’s main arena.

The draw for the qualifiers will be held in Belfast, which was removed as a tournament location last year when it was revealed the proposed venue could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026.

Official Statement

“The event will be a championship for the supporters and a showcase of everything we value about the game – its fervor and power to unite individuals.”

Over 3 million tickets, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are expected to be released to fans.