Cardiff will host the opening match of the 2028 UEFA European Championship, with Wembley Stadium in London set to stage both semi-finals and the final. The decision was officially confirmed during the tournament launch in London on Wednesday.
The 24-team competition will be played across nine venues in four nations—England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland was initially part of the joint bid, but Belfast’s Casement Park was removed due to funding issues.
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney expressed immense pride in the announcement, calling it a “truly historic occasion.” He said, “This will be the first time that ‘The Red Wall’—our passionate Wales fans—will experience a major international tournament on home soil.”
Mooney added that hosting the opening match would “unite communities, inspire future generations, and showcase the very best of Welsh football and culture on the world stage.”
In a departure from previous tournaments, host nations will not automatically qualify for Euro 2028. However, if they do qualify through the regular process, they will be guaranteed to play their group matches on home soil.
Each of the four host nations will be placed in separate qualifying groups. Two additional spots will be reserved for the highest-ranked host nations that fail to qualify directly.
The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Glasgow’s Hampden Park, and Wembley will host the quarter-finals. Wembley, which previously staged the Euro 1996 semi-finals and final, as well as the 2020 final, remains a key centerpiece of the tournament.
In England, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium will host the Three Lions’ opening group match if they qualify, while other matches will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium, and St James’ Park in Newcastle.
Last-16 matches will be played across all host venues except Wembley. England, depending on group performance, could play their knockout match in Newcastle or Liverpool.
The qualifying draw is scheduled to take place in Belfast on 6 December 2026. Debbie Hewitt, chair of UK & Ireland 2028 Limited, vowed to deliver “the best ever” European Championship, describing it as “a festival of everything we love about football—its passion, unity, and joy.”
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised the host nations, saying, “These countries, where the game first took shape, will welcome millions of fans into legendary stadiums for a festival of emotions.”
Outside the launch event, a small pro-Palestine protest took place, with demonstrators opposing Israel’s membership in UEFA. The protest remained peaceful and did not disrupt proceedings.
As anticipation builds, Euro 2028 promises to be a celebration of football heritage, diversity, and unity—anchored by an opening night to remember in Cardiff.
