The Euro 2028 schedule has been confirmed, with Wales potentially playing their opening game at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium and England potentially playing their first game at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
The competition will see 24 teams play in nine stadiums across England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, starting on June 9 and ending with the final at Wembley on July 9.
Wales will have a chance to play in the opening match, as the four host nations will not automatically qualify for Euro 2028 but would have played all group games in front of their own fans if they had qualified directly.
If England qualify, their first match will be played at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, with their final two group games at Wembley.
If England finish top of their group, they will play the round of 16 at St James’s Park in Newcastle, before playing the quarter-finals and semi-finals at Wembley.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Football Association president Debbie Hewitt spoke to Sky Sports News’ Geraint Hughes as the schedule for Euro 2028 in Great Britain and Ireland was announced.
If Scotland qualify, they will play all three of their group matches at Hampden Park, and if they finish top of their group they will face each other in the round of 16. The same applies at the Principality Stadium in Wales and the Aviva Stadium in the Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland will no longer be hosting Euro 2028 after the UK government announced it would not fund the redevelopment of Casement Park in time for the tournament in September 2024, but the country is set to play its part with Belfast hosting the tournament’s qualifying draw on December 6 next year.
Euro 2028 is set to be the biggest European tournament in history, with more than three million tickets sold to fans.
Football Association President Debbie Hewitt, who is also Chair of UK and Ireland 2028 Ltd, said: “Today marks a proud milestone for football across the UK and Ireland as we celebrate the start of Euro 2028.”
“Together with UEFA, our football and government partners, we will deliver the best Euro ever. It will be a tournament for the fans and a festival of everything we love about this game: passion and its ability to bring people together.”
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: “The host country, where this game first took shape, is keen to welcome millions of fans to its legendary stadiums, and the design we have presented today provides the perfect setting for a vividly concentrated emotional extravaganza.”
euro 2028 schedule
Kickoff time will be determined after the 2027 draw
group stage
Friday 9th June: A1 vs A2 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday 10 June: B3 vs B4 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday 10th June: A3 vs A4 – Hampden Park, Glasgow
Saturday 10 June: B1 vs B2 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Sunday 11 June: D3 vs D4 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Sunday 11th June: C3 vs C4 – Villa Park, Birmingham
Sunday 11 June: C1 vs C2 – Wembley Stadium, London
Monday 12th June: E1 vs E2 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Monday 12th June: E3 v E4 – St James’ Park, Newcastle
Monday 12th June: D1 vs D2 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Tuesday 13th June: F1 vs F2 – Hampden Park, Scotland
Tuesday 13th June: F3 vs F4 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Wednesday 14th June: A1 vs A3 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Wednesday 14th June: A2 vs A4 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Wednesday 14th June: B1 vs B3 – Wembley Stadium, London
Thursday 15 June: C2 vs C4 – St James’ Park, Newcastle
Thursday 15th June: B2 vs B4 – Villa Park, Birmingham
Thursday 15 June: C1 vs C3 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Friday 16 June: E1 vs E3 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Friday 16 June: D2 vs D4 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Friday 16 June: D1 vs D3 – Wembley Stadium, London
Saturday 17th June: F1 vs F3 – Hampden Park, Scotland
Saturday 17 June: F2 vs F4 – St James’s Park, Newcastle
Saturday 17 June: E2 vs E4 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Sunday 18th June: A4 vs A1 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Sunday 18 June: A2 vs A3 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Monday 19 June: B2 vs B3 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Monday 19th June: B4 vs B1 – Wembley Stadium, London
Tuesday 20th June: D2 v D3 – St James’ Park, Newcastle
Tuesday 20th June: C4 vs C1 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Tuesday 20th June: C2 vs C3 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Tuesday 20th June: D4 vs D1 – Villa Park, Birmingham
Wednesday 21st June: F2 vs F3 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Wednesday 21st June: E4 vs E1 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wednesday 21st June: F4 vs F1 – Hampden Park, Scotland
Wednesday 21st June: E2 vs E3 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
round 16
Saturday 24th June: 1A vs 2C (Match 37) – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday 24th June: 2A vs 2B (Game 38) – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Sunday 25th June: 1B vs 3A/D/E/F (39th match) – St James’ Park, Newcastle
Sunday 25th June: 1C vs 3D/E/F (40th match) – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Monday 26th June: 1F vs 3A/B/C (Match 41) – Hampden Park, Glasgow
Monday 26th June: 2D vs 2E (Match 42) – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Tuesday 27th June: 1E vs 3A/B/C/D (43rd match) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Tuesday 27th June: 1D vs 2F (Match 44) – Villa Park, Birmingham
quarterfinals
Friday 30th June: W39 vs W37 (Match 45) – Wembley Stadium, London
Friday 30th June: W41 vs W42 (Match 46) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday 1st July: W44 vs W43 (47th match) – Hampden Park, Glasgow
Saturday 1st July: W40 vs W38 (Match 48) – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Semi-final
Tuesday 4th July: W45 vs W46 – Wembley Stadium, London
Wednesday 5th July: W47 vs W48 – Wembley Stadium, London
final
Sunday 9th July – Wembley Stadium, London
How does the host country qualify?
All four countries qualify, with two places automatically reserved for the top-placed host nation who fail to qualify on the pitch.
If at least two of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland qualify, all four countries will qualify for the tournament.
Depending on the number of spots used by the host country, the number of spots in the final tournament determined by the play-offs can vary between 2 and 4 in one of three scenarios:
Both are qualifying slots reserved for hosts that will be used. Eight teams will compete in two passes for the two knockout spots, with a single-leg semi-final and final.
One qualifying slot reserved for hosts to be used: 12 teams will compete in three passes for three knockout spots, with a single-leg semi-final and final.
There are no reserve qualifying slots available for hosts used. Eight teams compete in four home and away playoffs, with the winners advancing to the finals.
What happened to Northern Ireland and Casement Park?
Northern Ireland will no longer be hosting Euro 2028 after the UK government announced in September 2024 that it would not fund the redevelopment of Casement Park in time for the tournament, adding there was a “significant risk” that construction would not be completed in time.
The estimated cost of rebuilding Belfast’s stadium has “dramatically increased” to more than £400m, the government has announced.
The site is in ruins and plans by the Gaelic Athletic Association to redevelop it into a 34,000-seater stadium have been mired in controversy and hit by delays.
