Cardiff has been officially confirmed as the host city for the opening match of UEFA Euro 2028, scheduled for June 9, while the final will take place at Wembley Stadium, London, on July 9, according to an announcement made by UEFA on Thursday.
The tournament, which will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, will feature 51 matches involving 24 nations across nine venues in eight cities, including Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle
The semi-finals and one of the quarter-finals will be held at Wembley Stadium — Europe’s most iconic football arena — while the remaining quarter-final matches will take place in Dublin, Glasgow, and Cardiff.
All host cities, except Wembley, will also stage Round of 16 fixtures, ensuring that fans across the four host nations can experience the thrill of knockout football.
Host nations that qualify automatically will play their group-stage matches on home soil, allowing local supporters to rally behind their national teams.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Euro 2028 as a celebration of football unity across the British Isles, symbolizing the sport’s deep roots and shared heritage.
“At UEFA EURO 2028, we will all speak the language of football — loud, clear, and united,” said Čeferin.
“The host nations, where football’s history runs deep, are ready to welcome millions of fans to their historic stadiums.
Through careful planning, including fan-friendly kick-off times, we aim to maximize the overall experience.”
UEFA confirmed that matches will kick off at three designated times — 1400 GMT, 1700 GMT, and 2000 GMT — designed to accommodate both local and global audiences.
Chief Executive Officer of the Football Association (FA) of England, Mark Bullingham, said the upcoming tournament is designed with fans at its heart.
“The scale of this tournament will have a positive impact on communities across all host nations,” Bullingham said.
“This will be a tournament for the fans — every aspect of our planning is focused on delivering the best possible experience.”
In May 2024, UEFA confirmed that the four co-hosts — England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland — would participate in the Euro 2028 qualifiers, with two automatic qualification places reserved should any host nations fail to qualify through the traditional route.
At Euro 2024, England finished as runners-up, while Scotland exited in the group stage. Wales and Ireland did not qualify for that edition of the tournament in Germany.
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