đ Share this article England to Launch Euro 2028 Campaign at Cityâs Home Ground The England national team will embark on their 2028 European Championship campaign at the the home of Manchester City, provided that they achieve the expected qualification for a competition staged throughout the bulk of Britain and the Ireland. The Etihad Stadium has not hosted an Three Lions fixture since May 2016, when the Turkish team were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but is highly likely to welcome the national team for their first match on June 10, 2028. The English side are scheduled to play their last two group stage games at the national stadium, but, if they top Group B, their last-16 tie would occur at St Jamesâ Park. Placing second would mean commencing the elimination stage at Evertonâs ground. Competition Launch and Demonstration The championship was inaugurated at an ceremony in a London landmark on Wednesday night. Key representatives from European footballâs governing body and the organizing bodies were heckled as they approached the venue by about 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, who urged Israelâs national side to be removed from international football because of the Gaza crisis. Banners were displayed with messages stating âShow Israel the red cardâ and âYou are complicitâ, while protesters chanted: âKick Israel out.â Tournament Timeline The inaugural fixture of the European Championship will be played at the the national stadium of Wales in Cardiff, on a Friday in June 2028, a fixture that will feature the Welsh team if they qualify. The national stadium will host both semi-finals and the championship match, which will be played on a Sunday in July 2028 with a kick-off time at 5pm. It is hoped that an earlier start, which will also be implemented for Champions League finals from the following campaign, will appeal to family audiences and help reach a wider spectrum of viewers. Qualifying Teams The Irish team are due to play their initial fixture at the Dublin stadium and the Tartan Army would play similarly at the national stadium of Scotland. Each host nationâs squad will enter the preliminary stage; two reserved places will be reserved for any that do not reach Euro 2028 through that route. Locations and Playoffs Aston Villaâs stadium and The North London arena complete the nine host stadiums. Every stadium will hold at least one playoff fixture, with the quarterfinal matches held at each countryâs national stadium. The qualifying draw will be held in the Northern Irish capital, which was dropped as a host city last year when it was revealed Casement Park could not be renovated in time, on December 6, 2026. Official Statement âThe event will be a tournament for the fans and a festival of everything we cherish about the football â its fervor and capacity to bring people together.â More than three million admissions, a unprecedented number for a Euro tournament, are projected to be offered to fans.