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England’s men’s team will initiate their Euro 2028 journey at the Manchester City’s stadium, assuming they secure the expected entry for a tournament staged throughout the majority of the UK and the Irish Republic.

The Etihad Stadium has not staged an England men’s match since May 2016, when the visitors were beaten 2-1 in a warm-up game, but is almost certain to welcome the national team for their opening fixture on a Saturday in June 2028.

The team are set to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, if they top their group, their round of 16 match would occur at St James’ Park. Placing second would mean beginning the elimination stage at Everton’s ground.

Competition Launch and Rally

The event was inaugurated at an event in central London on Wednesday evening. High-ranking officials from the tournament organizers and the host football associations were heckled as they approached the venue by around fifty protesters, who called for Israel’s national side to be expelled from global football because of the situation in Gaza.

Placards were held up with phrases stating “Show Israel the red card” and “You are complicit”, while protesters chanted: “Kick Israel out.”

Event Fixture List

The opening game of the tournament will be staged at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will feature the Dragons if they secure a place.

Wembley will host the penultimate rounds and the final, which will be played on July 9, 2028 with a start time at 5:00 PM.

It is anticipated that an earlier kick-off, which will also be adopted for Champions League finals from the upcoming season, will attract families and help reach a more diverse set of viewers.

Host Nations

The Ireland are scheduled to play their initial fixture at the Dublin Arena and the Tartan Army would do the same at the national stadium of Scotland.

All four host countries’ teams will enter the preliminary stage; two reserved places will be held in reserve for any that fail to qualify for Euro 2028 through that route.

Venues and Elimination Phase

The Birmingham venue and The North London arena round out the event’s nine venues. Each one will hold at least one elimination game, with the quarter-finals played at each country’s national stadium.

The draw for the qualifiers will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was removed as a host city last year when it emerged Casement Park could not be upgraded in time, on a date in late 2026.

Tournament Vision

“It will be a tournament for the fans and a festival of everything we love about the game – its fervor and ability to foster unity.”

More than three million passes, a unprecedented number for a men’s European Championship, are projected to be made available to attendees.