Description

UEFA Euro 2028 – stadiums, host cities and format of games

UEFA Euro 2028 will take place in the UK and Ireland after a joint bid from England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales was selected by the UEFA Executive Committee. This will be the fifth time the EURO has been played in multiple countries – following tournaments in Belgium and the Netherlands (2000), Austria and Switzerland (2008), Poland and Ukraine (2012) and Euro 2020, which took place in 11 different countries in the summer of 2021. What can we expect this time? Which stadiums will host the tournament and in which cities are they located? Read our comprehensive Euro 2028 guide.

How was the Euro 2028 host chosen?

Interested countries had until March 2022 to declare a bid to host with 10 stadiums, of which one must have 60,000 seats, one (preferably two) must have 50,000 seats, four must have 40,000 seats and three must have 30,000 seats. The final selection of the host of Euro 2028 took place on October 10, 2023 in Nyon. The UEFA Executive Committee awarded the organisation to the only candidate – the joint bid of Great Britain and Ireland.

Who were Great Britain and Ireland competing against to host Euro 2028?

On March 23, 2022, the Turkish Football Federation confirmed its application to host the 2028 European Championships. This is the sixth time Turkey has applied to host the championship (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024). On April 12, 2023, the TFF revealed the list of 10 stadiums applying for 2028 and 2032. Eventually, Turkey withdrew its application to host Euro 2028 in favour of a tournament scheduled for 2032. The Turks will then host the Euro together with Italy.

Which European Championship will it be?

Euro 2028 will be the 18th edition of the European Football Championship. The first final tournament was held in 1960 and since then the competition has been played regularly every four years (the exception was Euro 2020, which was postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In the first five editions, only four teams participated in the final tournament.

What do the Euro 2028 stadiums look like?

Football fans around the world are curious to know which stadiums will host UEFA Euro 2028 and what they have to offer. If you're one of them, you'll be able to find out more about the venues for this tournament right now!

We have gone into this topic in detail in the video, which you can watch below or directly on our YouTube channel. Ready for a virtual tour of the UEFA Euro 2028 stadiums? You'll be able to catch a glimpse of some of the world's most recognisable venues, new arenas and the aura that surrounds the European Championship stadiums!

Which stadium will host the Euro 2028 final?

There are many indications that, as was the case for the closing match of Euro 2020, the Euro 2028 final will be held at Wembley. It is the largest stadium in the UK and a living legend of English football. The first official match at the new Wembley was played on March 24, 2007 – a meeting between England and Italy's youth teams. On May 11 of the same year, a statue of Bobby Moore was unveiled just outside the main entrance. The London venue has for years been the second largest stadium in Europe, just behind Camp Nou. Its most striking feature is the towering 133-metre steel arch, visible from miles around at night. Its inner diameter is 7 metres and its span is 315 metres.

© Jas Mann – Wembley Stadium, possible host of the Euro 2028 final

How many teams will play at Euro 2028?

For the fourth consecutive time, 24 national teams will participate at Euro 2028. The competition is scheduled to take place in June/July 2028, with 51 matches to be played. During the host selection process, there were reports of a possible expansion of the number of teams to 32, but in October 2022 UEFA stated that it did not intend to increase the number of participants in the European Championship tournament in the near future.

Will the hosts have to play in the qualifiers for Euro 2028?

In case Great Britain and Ireland are selected as candidates, not all hosts will be guaranteed participation in advance. Instead, all hosts of the 2028 European Championships will have to fight for promotion to the tournament in the qualifiers. UEFA guarantees the participation of a minimum of two hosts in the tournament in the event that none or only one of the five teams wins promotion through qualification.

In which cities are the Euro 2028 stadiums located?

Twenty-eight matches are expected to be played in England, six each in Scotland, Wales and Ireland and five in Northern Ireland. Which cities will host these matches?

London

The capital and largest city of England and the UK, located in the south-east of the country on the River Thames. It is the third largest city in Europe, after Moscow and Istanbul, and is also one of the largest cities in the world both on a city and metropolitan scale. London is home to many stadiums, but 2 of them have been selected to host Euro 2028 – Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. We can assume that it will be in the capital that we will watch the final.

© Hufton+Crow – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Manchester

Manchester was founded in 1086 near a Roman fortified camp, operating from the first to the early fifth century. It is a city and metropolitan district in north-west England, in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, situated on the rivers Irwell and Mersey at the foot of the Pennine Mountains, connected to the Irish Sea. Although Manchester's more famous stadium is Old Trafford, the Euro 2028 matches will take place at Etihad Stadium, the venue of The Citizens.

Liverpool

Liverpool is associated with the pop-rock band The Beatles, who formed in the city and performed at The Cavern club. Liverpool is home to well-known football clubs Liverpool F.C. (The Reds) and Everton F.C. (The Toffees). Although the former is more recognisable, the Euros will come to Everton Stadium, the youngest venue at the Euros.

Newcastle

Newcastle was once a shipbuilding town, also known as Newcastle upon Tyne. Situated on the River Tyne, the city hides many famous Victorian buildings. There are great museums, art galleries and entertainment venues, but fans waiting for Euro 2028 are certainly most interested in the stadium. St James' Park is where Newcastle United FC play their day-to-day games.

© Mark Walker – St. James’ Park

Birmingham

Birmingham is the largest city in the West Midlands conurbation – one of England's main industrial and commercial areas, where it acts as an administrative, leisure and cultural centre. The city lies approximately 177 km north-west of London. Birmingham's largest sporting venue is Villa Park, where Europe's top footballers will play.

Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and forms an independent urban area that lies entirely within the historic county of Lanarkshire. The city occupies much of the Clyde Valley and its suburbs extend into the surrounding counties. The most important commercial and administrative buildings are located to the north of the River Clyde. Representing Scotland at the Euros is Hampden Park, which is the home of the national team of this part of the UK.

© Gordon Calder – Hampden Park

Dublin

This city is said to be as cosy as a village and as friendly as an Irish pub. Surrounded by mountains, situated on a river and surrounded by a beautiful bay, the city's streets and alleyways are filled with historic buildings, trendy cafes and traditional 'old man' pubs, as Dubliners call them. The home of the European Championships in Ireland is to be the Aviva Stadium, a unique irregularly shaped venue.

Belfast

Nestled between the hills and the famous cranes of the Harland and Wolff shipyard, Belfast has found new life in recent years. It is now a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that has undergone a major transformation and rejuvenation, resulting in a modern city centre. The stadium for the Euros is to be Casement Park, capable of hosting the tournament's group matches.

Cardiff

Cardiff was granted city status in 1905, but it was not until 1955 that it was decided that the city would be named the capital of Wales. This makes Cardiff not only one of the smallest capitals in Europe, but also one of the youngest. The arena when the continent's best footballers compete is to be Principality Stadium, a very capacious venue opened in 1999.