Cardiff will kick off the 2028 UEFA European Championship on June 9, with the final to be played a month later at London’s Wembley Stadium, UEFA announced on Wednesday.
The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, is set to feature 24 teams playing 51 matches across eight cities, including Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.
Wembley will stage both semi-finals and one quarter-final, while the remaining last-eight ties will take place in Dublin, Glasgow and Cardiff. Each host nation that qualifies will play its group-stage matches at home.
“At UEFA EURO 2028, we will all speak football – loud, clear and united,” UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said, describing the event as a celebration of the game’s roots in the UK and Ireland. He added that organisers aim to “maximise the fan experience” through improved scheduling and venue coordination.
ALSO READ: I was unhappy at Man City — Ederson
UEFA has set three standard kick-off times for the competition, 1400 GMT, 1700 GMT and 2000 GMT, to better suit global audiences.
According to UEFA, an independent assessment projects that the tournament will generate up to £3.6 billion ($4.83 billion) in economic benefits for the UK and Ireland between 2028 and 2031. Governments across the host nations have pledged £740 million ($993 million) to support event logistics, safety and infrastructure.
“This will be a tournament for the fans,” said Mark Bullingham, CEO of the English FA. “The scale of the event will bring lasting benefits to communities across the country.”
The qualifying draw for Euro 2028 will take place in Belfast on December 6, 2026.