Euro 2028 Kicks Off in Cardiff, Concludes at Wembley
The stage is set for a historic UEFA Euro 2028 tournament, with Cardiff's Principality Stadium officially selected to host the opening match. The football extravaganza will then culminate exactly one month later with the final at London's Wembley Stadium, which has been handed a new, fan-friendly kick-off time of 5pm by UEFA.
The tournament, a joint venture by England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, will run from Friday, June 9, 2028, to Sunday, July 9, 2028. In a major announcement, UEFA confirmed that the four host nations will play their group stage matches in front of their own supporters, provided they qualify directly for the competition.
Host Nation Venues and Tournament Structure
Should they qualify, England's first group game would be held at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, with their following two matches taking place at Wembley. Meanwhile, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales would play their respective group fixtures in Dublin, Glasgow, and Cardiff.
The decision to move the final's kick-off to 5pm follows a similar change implemented for the Champions League final, aiming to provide a more convenient viewing experience for families and fans across different time zones. For Euro 2028, matches will be played at three distinct times: 2pm, 5pm, and 8pm. The full match-day schedule will be confirmed after the final tournament draw in 2027.
The stadiums confirmed for use across the UK and Ireland are:
- Villa Park, Birmingham (48,000)
- Principality Stadium, Cardiff (73,000)
- Aviva Stadium, Dublin (50,000)
- Hampden Park, Glasgow (51,000)
- Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (50,000)
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (60,000)
- Wembley Stadium, London (86,000)
- Etihad Stadium, Manchester (58,000)
- St James' Park, Newcastle (50,000)
Massive Investment and Socio-Economic Boost
The economic impact of Euro 2028 is projected to be substantial, with an estimated £3.6 billion in socio-economic benefits forecast for the host nations. To support the event, the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Government of Ireland have committed to a collective investment of up to £740 million.
The breakdown of government investments is as follows:
- UK Government: up to £557 million
- Government of Ireland: up to £78.9 million
- Scottish Government: up to £73 million
- Welsh Government: up to £30 million
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin heralded the tournament, stating: "Football is the universal language... At Euro 2028, we will all speak football – loud, clear and united." He emphasised that the fans will be the "beating heart" of the event, with the new kick-off times and host city services designed to maximise the experience for everyone.
The official launch event in London's Piccadilly Circus was, however, interrupted by protesters displaying 'Free Palestine' flags and banners with messages such as 'You are complicit' and 'Offside for genocide'.
