LONDON – UEFA has officially announced the schedule and venues for the 2028 European Championship, which will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Cardiff will host the tournament’s opening match on June 9, while the final is set for London’s Wembley Stadium on July 9. The tournament will feature 51 matches across nine venues in eight cities, including Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle.
The semi-finals and one quarter-final will be held at Wembley, with other quarter-final matches taking place in Dublin, Glasgow, and Cardiff. Matches in the round of 16 will be spread across all host venues except Wembley. Host nations qualifying directly will play their group-stage matches on home soil. UEFA confirmed kick-off times of 1400 GMT, 1700 GMT, and 2000 GMT, with the final starting at 1600 GMT to avoid the ticketing chaos that affected Euro 2020.
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The tournament is expected to generate £3.6 billion ($4.83 billion) in socio-economic benefits for the UK and Ireland from 2028 to 2031, including job creation, regional prosperity, and international tourism spending. Governments across the UK and Ireland have pledged up to £740 million ($993 million) to ensure security and provide a world-class fan experience.
England’s first match will be at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. Depending on group-stage results, subsequent matches could be held at Wembley, Newcastle’s St James’ Park, or Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. England and Wales could meet in a quarter-final at Wembley if both teams win their respective groups. Debbie Hewit, chair of England’s FA and UK & Ireland 2028 Ltd, promised fans the “best-ever” European Championship.
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The Euro 2028 qualifying draw will take place in Belfast on December 6, 2026. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasised that the host nations are eager to welcome fans into iconic stadiums and ensure an unforgettable experience, with a focus on fan safety and convenience throughout the tournament.