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England’s men’s team will commence their 2028 European Championship campaign at the Etihad Stadium, provided that they attain the expected entry for a championship taking place in the majority of the UK and the Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an Three Lions game since the spring of 2016, when the Turkish team were overcome 2-1 in a exhibition match, but is almost certain to host the Three Lions for their opening fixture on Saturday 10 June 2028.

The team are planned to play their concluding group fixtures at Wembley, but, if they top their group, their knockout stage opener would be held at the Newcastle stadium. Securing the runner-up spot would mean beginning the elimination stage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tournament Launch and Rally

The championship was unveiled at an gathering in a London landmark on the previous evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the organizing bodies were barracked as they approached the site by around fifty pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israel’s national side to be expelled from global football because of the situation in Gaza.

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

Championship Fixture List

The inaugural fixture of the tournament will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in the Welsh capital, on June 9, 2028, a game that will feature the Welsh team if they secure a place.

The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the final, which will be played on Sunday 9 July with a commencement at 5pm.

It is hoped that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for UEFA Champions League finals from next season, will attract family audiences and help engage a wider spectrum of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Ireland are set to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would follow suit at the national stadium of Scotland.

The national sides of all four hosts will participate in the preliminary stage; two guaranteed slots will be held in reserve for any that do not reach the finals through the qualification path.

Locations and Knockout Stage

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena round out the nine tournament locations. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the last eight staged at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be held in Belfast, which was excluded as a venue city last year when it emerged the proposed venue could not be renovated in time, on 6 December 2026.

Official Statement

“It will be a competition for the followers and a festival of everything we value about the game – its fervor and power to foster unity.”

In excess of three million passes, a all-time high for a Euro tournament, are projected to be offered to attendees.