Cardiff to kick off Euro 2028 as Wembley set for final | OneFootball

Cardiff will stage the opening match of Euro 2028, with Wembley Stadium in London confirmed as the venue for the semi-finals and the final.

The 24-team tournament will be spread across nine stadiums in four host nations: England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland was originally due to host matches, but Belfast’s Casement Park was removed from the plans due to funding challenges.

Unlike previous European Championships, host nations must qualify to take part, though any that make it directly will be guaranteed to play their group matches at home. Each host nation will be drawn into a separate qualifying group, with two extra spots reserved for the highest-ranked sides that don’t qualify automatically.

The quarter-finals are set for Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Glasgow’s Hampden Park, and Wembley, which has previously hosted semi-finals and the final in 1996 and the delayed Euro 2020 edition.

The round of 16 will take place at all host stadiums except Wembley, with the other venues being Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Goodison Park in Liverpool, and St James’ Park in Newcastle

Overall, 51 matches will take place from 9 June to 9 July 2028, bringing a major European football festival to stadiums across the UK and Ireland.