Euro 2028 will be the first European Championship hosted across the United Kingdom and Ireland. It runs from 9 June to 9 July 2028, with 24 teams, nine stadiums in eight cities and the final at Wembley. With the qualifying draw set for 6 December 2026 in Belfast, here is everything you need to know about the tournament.
Euro 2028 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Hosts | England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland |
| Dates | 9 June – 9 July 2028 |
| Teams | 24 |
| Matches | 51 |
| Stadiums | 9 in 8 cities |
| Opening match | Principality Stadium, Cardiff (9 June) |
| Semi-finals and final | Wembley Stadium, London |
| Qualifying draw | 6 December 2026, Belfast |
Who Is Hosting Euro 2028?
UEFA confirmed the joint UK and Ireland bid as hosts of Euro 2028 in October 2023, at the same time as Italy and Turkey were named hosts of Euro 2032. The original bid included five nations, but Northern Ireland is no longer a host. In September 2024 the UK government said it would not fund the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast in time, after the estimated cost rose above £400 million. That means Belfast will host the qualifying draw but no matches at the finals.
Euro 2028 Stadiums and Host Cities
Nine stadiums will stage the 51 matches. London is the only city with two venues, and every host nation gets at least one stadium.
| Stadium | City | Capacity | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wembley Stadium | London | 90,000 | 8 |
| Aviva Stadium | Dublin | 51,711 | 7 |
| Principality Stadium | Cardiff | 73,931 | 6 |
| Hampden Park | Glasgow | 51,866 | 6 |
| Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | London | 62,850 | 5 |
| Etihad Stadium | Manchester | 61,470 | 5 |
| Hill Dickinson Stadium | Liverpool | 52,769 | 5 |
| St James’ Park | Newcastle | 52,264 | 5 |
| Villa Park | Birmingham | 50,000 (after renovation) | 4 |
The Hill Dickinson Stadium is Everton’s new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock, and Villa Park is being renovated ahead of the tournament. The round of 16 will be played at every venue except Wembley, and each host nation will stage one quarter-final.
Euro 2028 Format
The format is the same one used at Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024:
- 24 teams are drawn into six groups of four (Groups A to F).
- The top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams reach the round of 16.
- The knockout rounds are the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
- There is no third-place play-off.
- Drawn knockout matches go to extra time and then a penalty shootout.
That adds up to 36 group matches and 15 knockout matches. If you want to know how penalty shootouts work, read our penalty shootout rules guide.
Key Dates
- 6 December 2026: qualifying group-stage draw in Belfast
- 2027: qualifying group matches
- Before the finals: play-offs to decide the last places
- Late 2027 (expected): final tournament draw, after which kick-off times are confirmed
- 9 June 2028: opening match in Cardiff
- 4–5 July 2028: semi-finals at Wembley
- 9 July 2028: final at Wembley
How Euro 2028 Qualifying Works
Unlike most tournaments, the hosts do not qualify automatically. England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland all have to play qualifying matches. UEFA has approved this format:
- Qualifying has 12 groups of four or five teams.
- The 12 group winners and the 8 best-ranked runners-up qualify directly.
- Two places are held back for host nations that fail to qualify through their groups. If more than two hosts miss out, those places go to the best-ranked hosts.
- The four remaining runners-up join teams from the UEFA Nations League in the play-offs. The number of play-off places depends on how many host slots are used.
If at least two of the four hosts qualify on the pitch, all four will play at the finals. Northern Ireland have to qualify in the normal way and are not eligible for a reserved host place. For a wider look at how qualification works around the world, see our guide to World Cup qualification.
Where Will the Host Nations Play?
UEFA has reserved a group position for each host if they qualify, so they can play group matches at home:
| Team | Reserved position |
|---|---|
| Wales | A1 (opening match in Cardiff) |
| England | B1 |
| Northern Ireland | D1 |
| Republic of Ireland | E1 |
| Scotland | F1 |
The remaining group heads will be drawn from Pot 1 at the final draw.
Euro 2028 and the Bigger Football Calendar
Euro 2028 comes two years after Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup and two years before the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. In between, women’s football has the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Euro 2028 FAQs
When does Euro 2028 start and finish?
Euro 2028 starts on 9 June 2028 in Cardiff and the final is on 9 July 2028 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Where is the Euro 2028 final?
The final, along with both semi-finals, will be played at Wembley Stadium in London.
Do the hosts qualify automatically for Euro 2028?
No. All four hosts must play qualifying, but two places are reserved for the best-ranked hosts that do not qualify through the group stage.
When is the Euro 2028 qualifying draw?
The qualifying group-stage draw takes place on 6 December 2026 in Belfast.
How many teams play at Euro 2028?
24 teams, split into six groups of four.
