New Delhi: Cardiff will take centre stage for the opening match of Euro 2028 with the tournament’s semi-finals and final set to be held at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. The 24-team championship will be spread across nine venues in four host nations – England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland creating a footballing festival across the British Isles.
Northern Ireland had initially been included as a host nation but Belfast’s Casement Park was removed from the list due to funding issues. UEFA confirmed Caediff’s role in the tournament during the official launch event in London, signalling a historic moment for Welsh football.
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Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney expressed excitement about hosting the opening game. “This will be the first time that ‘The Red Wall’ will experience a major international tournament on home soil. It’s a truly historic occasion that will unite communities, inspire future generations and showcase the very best of Welsh football and culture on the world stage,” he said.
Unlike previous Euros, host nations must qualify for the tournament, though they will be guaranteed home group matches if they secure direct qualification. Each host nation will be placed in a separate qualifying group with two additional spots given to the highest-ranked sides who fail to qualify directly.
Venues and fixtures
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will also host a quarter-final alongside Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Glasgow’s Hampden Park and Wembley. Other English venues include Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and Newcastle’s St James’ Park. The last-16 matches will take place at all host stadiums except Wembley, ensuring fans across the UK and Ireland can experience the tournament first-hand.
The qualifying draw is scheduled for 6 December 2026 in Belfast. The chair of UK & Ireland 2028 Limited, Debbie Hewitt promised a fan-first tournament. “It will be a festival of everything we love about the game – its passion and ability to bring people together,” she said.
Tournament to being billions
The UK government is investing £557 million to stage the event but expects a return of £3.2 billion, citing job creation, regional growth and tourism benefits. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also called it “the biggest sporting event ever jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland.” He also highlighted the inspiration the tournament will bring to young players and the billions in economic benefits.