UEFA Euro 2028 Unveiled: Everything You Need to Know About Dates, Venues, and Tournament Format
While the championship remains years away, planning has already commenced for UEFA Euro 2028—the 18th edition of the prestigious European tournament.
England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will jointly host Euro 2028, though all four nations must still participate in qualification—with two positions guaranteed for any host countries that cannot secure their spot through competitive performance.
Spain will arrive as the current titleholders, knowing they remain the sole nation to capture consecutive championships in the tournament's existence. They aim to duplicate their success from 2008 and 2012, yet will encounter fierce opposition from Europe's other powerhouses.
Although still several years distant, the framework for Euro 2028 has been established. Here's all the essential information about the upcoming championship.
When Is Euro 2028?
Euro 2028 will take place throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland during a month-long span, beginning June 9, 2028 and concluding July 9, 2028.
Twenty-four nations will participate in the championship, featuring a complete total of 51 fixtures.
Host Cities, Venues for Euro 2028
Nine distinct stadiums will be utilized across eight cities throughout the four hosting nations. Six English facilities are designated for use, including Wembley Stadium for the semi-finals and championship match, while one venue has been selected in each of Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Northern Ireland previously held host nation status, but the administration's reluctance to finance required improvements at Casement Park resulted in the nation forfeiting their hosting privileges.
Should they advance, each host nation will compete before their home crowds. Scotland will perform at Hampden Park, Wales at the Principality Stadium (including the tournament kickoff) and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. England will stage most fixtures at Wembley, but will also utilize the Etihad Stadium and possibly St James' Park.
If Northern Ireland reaches Euro 2028, they will contest all three group matches in England.
Stadium | Location | Number of Matches |
|---|---|---|
Wembley Stadium | London, England | 8 |
Aviva Stadium | Dublin, Ireland | 7 |
Hampden Park | Glasgow, Scotland | 6 |
Principality Stadium | Cardiff, Wales | 6 |
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | London, England | 5 |
Etihad Stadium | Manchester, England | 5 |
Hill Dickinson Stadium | Liverpool, England | 5 |
St James' Park | Newcastle, England | 5 |
Villa Park | Birmingham, England | 4 |
Euro 2028 Format
The structure for Euro 2028 remains identical to the previous edition. The 24 squads will be divided into six groups of four teams, with the clubs finishing in the first two positions of each group directly advancing to the round of 16. The four highest-ranked third-place teams will also progress to the elimination phase.
Beginning with the round of 16, the championship becomes a straightforward, single-match elimination tournament, featuring the quarter-final followed by the semi-final and championship game. No third-place consolation match will occur.
Euro 2028 Schedule
Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
Group Stage | June 9–21 |
Last 16 | June 24–27 |
Quarter-finals | June 30-July 1 |
Semi-finals | July 4-5 |
Final | July 9 |
When Does Euro 2028 Qualifying Begin?
The selection ceremony for Euro 2028 qualification will occur in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Dec. 6, 2026. The draw will assign all UEFA members into 12 distinct groups, each featuring four or five nations.
As previously noted, the hosting nations will participate in qualification, but will be placed in different groups. Two positions at Euro 2028 are reserved for the top-performing host countries who fail to qualify through competition, with those additional spots granted to teams via playoffs should England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland all advance through group play.
Scheduling for Euro 2028 qualifying fixtures has not yet been announced.