EURO 2028: The variable ticket pricing system introduced by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup has caused quite a stir among fans, and it seems UEFA has taken note. Speaking to Sky News, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt made it clear that fairness and accessibility are at the heart of planning for EURO 2028.
“We’re not a fan of dynamic ticketing pricing and I think UEFA have heard that loud and clear,” she said. “There’s been no pushback from UEFA. They’re great partners. They understand, and have at their core, too, that we want to make this the most accessible Euros. So we’re giving a lot of thought to ticket pricing, how we make sure that the accessibility metrics are delivered on.”
Earlier Kick-Off for Wembley Final
The EURO 2028 final at Wembley will start three hours earlier than the 2021 final, kicking off at 5pm on Sunday, July 9. The decision is all about improving the matchday experience and making it easier for fans to enjoy the day.
“It’s easier to get there – we all know what happens to public transport late on a Sunday night,” Ms Hewitt explained. “Also we hope that the fans will want to celebrate after the game and so it allows that to happen. And of course, you have safety and security too. So all of those factors come together and it’s a common sense decision.”
Where the Action Will Happen
The 24-team tournament will take place across England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. If all the host nations qualify directly, each will play its group-stage matches on home turf.
The competition kicks off in Wales on June 9 at the National Stadium in Cardiff. Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and Glasgow’s Hampden Park will also host games, while the rest of the matches will be held across England, including at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Aston Villa’s Villa Park.
For England, the first game is set for Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, with the group stage wrapping up at Wembley. If the Three Lions win their group, they’ll play their round-of-16 match in Newcastle. If they finish second, they’ll head to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium instead.
Should England progress, their quarter-final, semi-final, and final games would all be played at Wembley.
England’s Quest for Glory
England’s men have reached back-to-back EURO finals, just like the Lionesses, but they’re still chasing their first European title. The country last hosted the men’s tournament in 1996, and in 2021, England shared hosting duties across Europe, staging the semi-finals and final at Wembley.
EURO 2028 Stadiums Announced
Here are the nine confirmed venues for EURO 2028:
- Cardiff: National Stadium of Wales
- Dublin: Dublin Arena
- Glasgow: Hampden Park
- Newcastle: St James’ Park
- Manchester: Etihad Stadium
- Liverpool: Hill Dickinson Stadium
- Birmingham: Villa Park
- London: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- London: Wembley Stadium
Each host nation will play its opening games at home if it qualifies. That means Wales will start in Cardiff, Ireland in Dublin, Scotland in Glasgow, and England will begin their campaign in Manchester before heading to Wembley.
EURO 2028: Key Dates and Tournament Format
The opening match of EURO 2028 will take place in Cardiff on Friday, June 9, with a Group A fixture kicking off the competition.
Round-of-16 games will be held at eight of the nine host stadiums, with Wembley reserved for later rounds. The quarter-finals will be split between Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, and Wembley. To keep things fair, the round-of-16 winners will play their quarter-final in a different stadium.
The final week of the tournament will all unfold at Wembley, with the semi-finals on Tuesday, July 4, and Wednesday, July 5, followed by the grand final on Sunday, July 9.
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The tournament will follow the same format used since EURO 2016, with 24 teams competing in the group stage. The top two teams from each of the six groups will advance to the round of 16, joined by the four best third-placed teams. From there, it’s straight knockouts all the way to the final.
Kick-off times are set for 15:00, 18:00, and 21:00 CEST, with the final starting at 18:00 CEST (17:00 local time). Full details for each matchday will be revealed after the final tournament draw in 2027.
As for the play-off winners, they’ll be added to the draw as placeholders until the qualifying process is complete.
EURO 2028 promises to be a festival of football that puts fans first, with accessibility, fairness, and unforgettable moments taking center stage across the UK and Ireland.
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