England will be commencing their Euro 2028 campaign at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, contingent upon direct qualification, while their fellow co-hosts, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales are set to conduct all their group matches on home soil.
The tournament was officially unveiled at a gathering in central London on Wednesday, showcasing the match schedule.
A small yet vocal pro-Palestine demonstration transpired outside the venue, as presentations were drowned out by chants opposing Israel’s ongoing membership in UEFA.
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Officials confirmed that England will start at the Etihad before heading to Wembley for their final two group matches if they secure direct qualification.
Should they top Group B, they will compete at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, then return to Wembley for the remainder of the tournament, where England’s national stadium is set to host one quarterfinal, both semifinals, and the final, scheduled for July 9.
The final has been set to kick off at 5 p.m. — three hours earlier than the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, which witnessed chaotic scenes as ticketless fans attempted to gain entry.
If England places second in the group, they will travel to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium for the round of 16, before proceeding to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Wales will begin their tournament at the Cardiff venue on June 9.
Nine venues across eight cities will host the tournament, with Villa Park and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium being the other Premier League sites included.
The four nations will feature in one quarterfinal, while the Republic, Scotland, and Wales will also be home for the last 16 if they clinch their respective groups — E, F, and A.
England and Wales may face each other in a quarterfinal at Wembley if both teams win their groups.
Organisers indicated that three million tickets would be available for the matches, surpassing any previous European Championship, but pricing details have not yet been finalised.
The four co-hosts will enter the qualification phases, yet two spots are reserved for those teams that do not manage to win their group or secure a place among the eight best runners-up.
Northern Ireland is expected to play a role, as Belfast will be the location for the tournament qualifying draw on December 6 next year.
A renovated Casement Park in Belfast was anticipated to become the 10th venue in what started as a five-nation bid, but withdrew in September 2024 following the UK’s Government’s refusal to fund the construction effort.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt — who also chairs UK and Ireland 2028 Ltd — stated: «Today marks a significant milestone for football throughout the UK and Ireland as we celebrate the initiation of Euro 2028.»
«Collaborating with UEFA and our football and government allies, we will create the best Euro ever. This tournament will be for the fans and a celebration of everything we cherish about the game — its fervor and capacity to unite people.»
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin remarked: «The host nations, where football first evolved, are enthusiastic to welcome millions of fans to iconic stadiums, creating the perfect environment for a festival of emotions, vividly illustrated in the design we unveiled today.»
Organisers have confirmed that the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Government of Ireland will together invest up to £740 million toward security and other expenses, which also includes a contribution to a £45 million social impact fund from other football partners.
An independent analysis predicts that the tournament will generate £3.6 billion in socio-economic benefits from 2028 to 2031.
