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The nine host cities and stadiums of the 2028 European Championship
Football

The nine host cities and stadiums of the 2028 European Championship

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UEFA has confirmed the nine stadiums that will host the 2028 European Championship, bringing the tournament to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The 51-match tournament will take place in four host countries: England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. The opener of the tournament will take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, while the semi-finals and final will take place at Wembley Stadium in London.

Northern Ireland, which was originally part of the joint bid, will not host matches after Belfast’s Casement Park was formally removed from the list of confirmed venues due to delays and rising costs associated with its redevelopment.

Although the host countries are guaranteed home matches if they qualify, they must all successfully complete the qualification process to participate in the tournament.

Here is a detailed guide to the nine stadiums where the Euro 2028 tournament will take place.

Which stadiums will host Euro 2028?

Wembley Stadium

  • Location: London, England
  • Capacity: 86,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals

Wembley is the largest stadium in Great Britain and the undisputed home of English football. Consequently, it will serve as the centerpiece of the tournament. As the main venue for the final week, Wembley will host both the semi-finals and final on Sunday 9 July.

The stadium indeed has a rich history of hosting grand finals. This includes the Euro 2020 final and the Lionesses’ victorious Euro 2022 final. The most iconic feature is the 133 meter high arch. This arch is an important structural element. It supports the entire north roof. This clever design ensures that no internal pillars obstruct the viewer’s view.

Principality Stadium

  • Location: Cardiff, Wales
  • Capacity: 73,000
  • Fixtures: Opening match, group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals

The tournament will officially start at the Wales National Stadium on Friday 9 June 2028. Although the builders originally built it for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the stadium has a strong football heritage. For example, it hosted the FA Cup final from 2001 to 2006. It also hosted the 2017 Champions League final.

An important feature is the fully retractable roof. At the time of construction it was only the second stadium in Europe to have one. Furthermore, if Wales qualify for the tournament, they will play all three of their group matches here in Cardiff.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

  • Location: London, England
  • Capacity: 60,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, round of 16

Opened in 2019, Tottenham Hotspur’s state-of-the-art home will be one of two London venues for the tournament. The stadium is famous for its single-tier South Stand with a capacity of 17,500.

The most famous innovation, however, is the world’s first dividing retractable field. During NFL games, the grass surface is split into three parts. It then slides under the stand, revealing a synthetic field underneath.

Etihad Stadium

  • Location: Manchester, England
  • Capacity: 58,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, round of 16

Manchester City’s home ground, originally built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, is tentatively scheduled to host England’s opening match, should the Three Lions qualify.

In addition, the stadium is currently undergoing an expansion of the North Stand. Completion of this construction is scheduled for the 2025/26 season. It will increase the stadium’s total capacity to more than 60,000. It also introduces a new hotel and fan zone.

Hill Dickinson Stadium

  • Location: Liverpool, England
  • Capacity: 50,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, round of 16

This tournament marks the first major international match for Everton’s new home ground. The stadium has just opened for the 2025-2026 Premier League season.

It is a modern marvel, built on the filled Bramley-Moore Dock. Furthermore, the design carefully preserves and integrates the history of the site. For example, the original monumental dock walls and a historic water tower are both part of the new public square.

Sint Jacobspark

  • Location: Newcastle, England
  • Capacity: 50,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, round of 16

The home of Newcastle United, an iconic venue steeped in history, brings Euro 2028 to the North East of England.

The stadium is known for its distinctive “lopsided” or asymmetrical appearance. This is due to expansion restrictions. In particular, the streets in the city center and the monumental buildings surrounding the hilltop location have made uniform development impossible.

In addition, the stadium has a proven track record when it comes to organizing major events. For example, it was a host venue during Euro 1996. Football matches were also held there during the 2012 Olympic Games.

Villa Park

  • Location: Birmingham, England
  • Capacity: 48,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, round of 16

Villa Park is one of the most traditional grounds in English football. It has been the home of Aston Villa since 1897. There were also seventeen England internationals at that time.

The famous Holte End stand is named after Sir Thomas Holte. He owned nearby Aston Hall. Moreover, the site has a rich history of organizing major tournaments. For example, it was a venue for matches during both the 1966 World Cup and the 1996 European Championship. In the future, the stadium will also undergo an expansion of the North Stand.

Hampden Park

  • Location: Glasgow, Scotland
  • Capacity: 51,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals

Scotland’s national stadium will once again take center stage on the European stage, having successfully hosted four matches during Euro 2020. The historic stadium is synonymous with the ‘Hampden Roar’. This is a term coined to describe the immense noise generated by the passionate Scottish support.

In addition, the stadium has hosted three Champions League finals. It will also be the exclusive home ground for Scotland’s group stage, should Steve Clarke’s side qualify for the tournament.

Dublin Arena

  • Location: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
  • Capacity: 50,000
  • Fixtures: Group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals

Also known as the Aviva Stadium, this venue is the home of Irish football and rugby. There will be a quarter-final for this tournament.

The unique, wave-like, curvilinear shape is a true feat of engineering. Specifically, designers created this shape so that the stadium drops in height on the north side. This smart design ensures that sunlight can still reach the adjacent houses.

Furthermore, the Republic of Ireland will play all three group matches here if they successfully qualify for the tournament.

Read- Comparison of England’s ten options ahead of the World Cup

See more- Five forgotten England internationals in need of January moves

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