The complete fixture list for the UEFA Euro 2028 championship has been officially released, revealing a significant exclusion of several prominent football venues from the roster of host stadiums. Football enthusiasts across the United Kingdom and Ireland are now aware of the locations where the prestigious tournament will unfold across June and July. However, this confirmation includes the notable absence of facilities owned by three of England’s most historically successful and globally recognized Premier League clubs, leaving a substantial portion of the footballing landscape untouched by the upcoming international event. This decision affects supporters who might have anticipated the opportunity to witness European Championship fixtures at these hallowed grounds, particularly given the tournament’s joint hosting arrangement between the UK and Ireland.
When the final selection of venues was announced, Old Trafford, Anfield, and the Emirates Stadium were conspicuously omitted from the nine facilities designated to host matches. These stadiums serve as the respective homes for Manchester United, Liverpool Football Club, and Arsenal Football Club, all of whom possess a rich heritage in English football. The decision means that these iconic arenas, deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of English football, will not welcome competing nations or their fans during the Euro 2028 competition. This exclusion, confirmed three years before the tournament commences, means that while England’s national team is set to play all of its group stage matches in front of its own supporters—contingent upon qualification—these specific grounds will not be among those where the Three Lions or any other participating team will compete. The absence of these well-known Premier League grounds from the official host list presents a distinct scenario for both the clubs and their extensive fan bases.
Reasons for Old Trafford’s Exclusion from Euro 2028
The primary reason cited for Old Trafford’s absence from the Euro 2028 schedule stems from the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Manchester United’s future stadium strategy. Earlier this year, Manchester United publicly disclosed its intentions to construct a new stadium with a substantial 100,000-seater capacity. This ambitious plan created complications during the 2023 finalization of the stadium shortlist for Euro 2028. At that crucial juncture, Manchester United was unable to provide a definitive assurance regarding Old Trafford’s availability for use in 2028. The club was actively evaluating two distinct paths: either proceeding with a comprehensive redevelopment of the existing Old Trafford site or embarking on the construction of an entirely new venue situated away from their current historic location. This lack of certainty regarding the stadium’s status for the tournament rendered it ineligible for selection by the organizing committee, thereby precluding one of England’s largest and most famous grounds from hosting European Championship encounters.
Anfield’s Ineligibility Due to Pitch Dimensions
Liverpool’s Anfield stadium faced exclusion from Euro 2028 due to an issue concerning its pitch dimensions. UEFA’s stringent guidelines explicitly mandate that ‘the field of play must have the standard dimensions of 105m by 68m’ for a venue to be considered for tournament hosting. Anfield’s pitch, despite its legendary status and storied history, measures 101 metres in length, which falls short of the required standard by four metres. This specific dimension constraint directly contributes to Anfield’s ineligibility, not only for Euro 2028 matches but also for hosting the finals of UEFA’s premier club competitions, the Champions League and the Europa League. The inability to meet this fundamental technical specification meant that a stadium synonymous with European football nights could not be included in the selection for the upcoming championship, impacting Liverpool FC and its supporters who would have hoped to see major international football played there.
Emirates Stadium Omission and Arsenal’s Redevelopment Plans
Similarly, the Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club, will experience a quiet summer during Euro 2028, as it was not selected as one of London’s designated venues. Instead, the organizing committee opted for Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to represent the capital. Arsenal has also reportedly been exploring potential redevelopment options for its home, which has served the club for 19 years. These reported plans involve increasing the current seating capacity of 60,700 to a figure exceeding 70,000. The decision not to include the Emirates in the Euro 2028 hosting schedule grants Arsenal greater flexibility concerning the timeline for any prospective redevelopment work. This flexibility is crucial should the club decide to proceed with significant alterations to the Emirates Stadium, allowing them to manage construction without the added pressure of international tournament commitments.
Confirmed Euro 2028 Host Stadiums and Cities
The selection of host stadiums for Euro 2028 comprises a diverse array of venues across the United Kingdom and Ireland, each designated to play a pivotal role in the tournament. Wembley Stadium in London is confirmed to host eight games, including the highly anticipated final on July 9. Wembley previously held the same honor for the showpiece matches at Euro 96 and Euro 2020. Additionally, should the England national team successfully qualify, they are scheduled to play their concluding two group fixtures and both semi-finals at this venue. In Manchester, the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City, will host five games. This stadium is undergoing expansion with a third tier being added to its North Stand, which will elevate its capacity to over 60,000 upon completion later this season. The Etihad is also slated to host England’s first match of Euro 2028. This blend of established giants and newer, modern facilities creates a comprehensive hosting landscape for the championship.
Key Host Venues Across the UK and Ireland
Further contributing to the tournament’s geographic spread, Liverpool will feature the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton’s newly opened 52,769-capacity home. This stadium, which commenced operations this year and stands as England’s eighth-largest football ground, will host five matches, including one Round of 16 fixture. It will be officially known as ‘Everton Stadium’ during the tournament due to regulations prohibiting sponsor names. St James’ Park in Newcastle, a historic venue that hosted five games during Euro 96 when the UK last exclusively staged a major international competition, is set to host five more matches. If England secures the top position in its group, the team’s Round of 16 game will take place in the North East. London’s second chosen venue is the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs’ home since 2019, which boasts the largest club stadium capacity in the capital. Equipped with a retractable pitch capable of accommodating NFL games on a synthetic surface beneath, it will host five games, comprising one Round of 16 encounter and four group stage fixtures.
Birmingham’s Villa Park, Aston Villa’s 52,190-seater stadium, is allocated four matches, building on its history of hosting four Euro 96 fixtures, including two of Scotland’s group games and a quarter-final. This venue also welcomed teams such as Spain, Argentina, and West Germany during the 1966 World Cup. Moving to Wales, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with a capacity of 74,500, will be the second-largest venue utilized for Euro 2028 and is set to stage the opening game on June 9. This provides Wales with considerable motivation to qualify, as they would participate in the tournament’s inaugural match before their home fans. Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park in Glasgow, which previously hosted four matches at Euro 2020, is scheduled for six games. Should Scotland qualify, their team will play all three group games in front of the Tartan Army in Glasgow. Finally, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, capable of accommodating over 51,000 spectators, is slated to host seven games. This venue regularly hosts Republic of Ireland football and rugby matches, alongside prominent Gaelic sports, and was notably withdrawn from the Euro 2020 host list by UEFA due to complications arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Euro 2028 Full Match Schedule
The detailed itinerary for Euro 2028 has been released, outlining the full schedule of fixtures across the selected venues. The Group Stage is planned from June 9 to June 21. Specific matches include:
**Group Stage**
* Friday, June 9: A1 vs A2 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
* Saturday, June 10: B3 vs B4 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
* Saturday, June 10: A3 vs A4 – Hampden Park, Glasgow
* Saturday, June 10: B1 vs B2 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
* Sunday, June 11: D3 vs D4 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
* Sunday, June 11: C3 vs C4 – Villa Park, Birmingham
* Sunday, June 11: C1 vs C2 – Wembley Stadium, London
* Monday, June 12: E1 vs E2 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
* Monday, June 12: E3 vs E4 – St James’ Park, Newcastle
* Monday, June 12: D1 vs D2 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
* Tuesday, June 13: F1 vs F2 – Hampden Park, Scotland
* Tuesday, June 13: F3 vs F4 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
* Wednesday, June 14: A1 vs A3 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
* Wednesday, June 14: A2 vs A4 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
* Wednesday, June 14: B1 vs B3 – Wembley Stadium, London
* Thursday, June 15: C2 vs C4 – St James’ Park, Newcastle
* Thursday, June 15: B2 vs B4 – Villa Park, Birmingham
* Thursday, June 15: C1 vs C3 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
* Friday, June 16: E1 vs E3 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
* Friday, June 16: D2 vs D4 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
* Friday, June 16: D1 vs D3 – Wembley Stadium, London
* Saturday, June 17: F1 vs F3 – Hampden Park, Scotland
* Saturday, June 17: F2 vs F4 – St James’ Park, Newcastle
* Saturday, June 17: E2 vs E4 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
* Sunday, June 18: A4 vs A1 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
* Sunday, June 18: A2 vs A3 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
* Monday, June 19: B2 vs B3 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
* Monday, June 19: B4 vs B1 – Wembley Stadium, London
* Tuesday, June 20: D2 vs D3 – St James’ Park, Newcastle
* Tuesday, June 20: C4 vs C1 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
* Tuesday, June 20: C2 vs C3 – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
* Tuesday, June 20: D4 vs D1 – Villa Park, Birmingham
* Wednesday, June 21: F2 vs F3 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
* Wednesday, June 21: E4 vs E1 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
* Wednesday, June 21: F4 vs F1 – Hampden Park, Scotland
* Wednesday, June 21: E2 vs E3 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
The tournament will then progress to the knockout stages:
**Round of 16**
* Saturday, June 24: 1A vs 2C (match 37) – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
* Saturday June 24: 2A vs 2B (match 38) – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
* Sunday, June 25: 1B vs 3A/D/E/F (match 39) – St James’ Park, Newcastle
* Sunday, June 25: 1C vs 3D/E/F (match 40) – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
* Monday, June 26: 1F vs 3A/B/C (match 41) – Hampden Park, Glasgow
* Monday, June 26: 2D vs 2E (match 42) – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
* Tuesday, June 27: 1E vs 3A/B/C/D (match 43) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
* Tuesday, June 27: 1D vs 2F (match 44) – Villa Park, Birmingham
**Quarter-finals**
* Friday, June 30: W39 vs W37 (match 45) – Wembley Stadium, London
* Friday, June 30: W41 vs W42 (match 46) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
* Saturday, July 1: W44 vs W43 (match 47) – Hampden Park, Glasgow
* Saturday, July 1: W40 vs W38 (match 48) – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
**Semi-finals**
* Tuesday, July 4: W45 vs W46 – Wembley Stadium, London
* Wednesday, July 5: W47 vs W48 – Wembley Stadium, London
**Final**
* Sunday, July 9 – Wembley Stadium, London