The Three Lions to Begin UEFA Euro 2028 Journey at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium

The English squad will commence their 2028 European Championship journey at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they secure the expected entry for a tournament taking place in the majority of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an English men’s game since May 2016, when the Turkish team were defeated 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to host the Three Lions for their first match on June 10, 2028.

The team are planned to play their final two group matches at Wembley Stadium, but, should they win the preliminary round, their round of 16 match would take place at St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the elimination stage at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Championship Kickoff and Protest

The event was launched at an ceremony in Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday evening. Key representatives from Uefa and the organizing bodies were heckled as they approached the site by about 50 protesters, who demanded the Israeli team to be kicked out from international football because of the Gaza crisis.

Placards were raised with messages saying “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while demonstrators shouted: “Kick Israel out.”

Tournament Timeline

The opening game of Euro 2028 will be staged at the Cardiff’s stadium in the Welsh capital, on Friday 9 June, a fixture that will involve the Dragons if they make it.

The national stadium will host the penultimate rounds and the title decider, which will be held on Sunday 9 July with a start time at late afternoon.

It is anticipated that an afternoon start, which will also be used for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will attract family audiences and help reach a more diverse set of viewers.

Participating Countries

The Republic of Ireland are set to play their opening match at the Dublin stadium and Scotland would follow suit at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

Each host nation’s squad will participate in the preliminary stage; two reserved places will be held in reserve for any that fail to qualify for the finals through that route.

Stadiums and Playoffs

The Birmingham venue and Spurs’ ground complete the event’s nine venues. Each one will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the last eight held at every host’s main arena.

The qualification draw will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a tournament location last year when it was revealed the proposed venue could not be redeveloped in time, on 6 December 2026.

Leadership Comment

“The event will be a competition for the fans and a celebration of everything we love about the football – its fervor and ability to unite individuals.”

Over 3 million admissions, a record for a Euro tournament, are expected to be offered to supporters.