Cardiff has been selected as the host city for the opening match of Euro 2028, UEFA has announced. The tournament will be held across nine venues in four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. The semi-finals and final will take place at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. It’s set to be a month long tournament with 24 teams set to take part.
The qualifying draw will be taking place in Belfast on 6 December, 2026. The tournament will be held from 9 June – 9 July, 2028.
Here is everything you need to know.
Belfast’s Casement Park dropped
Northern Ireland was also supposed to host matches, but Belfast’s Casement Park has been dropped due to funding issues. The decision was made as part of UEFA’s official tournament launch on Wednesday. Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney expressed his excitement over the historic occasion, saying it would showcase Welsh football and culture on a global stage.
Hosts nations need to qualify for event
Unlike previous editions, host nations will have to qualify for Euro 2028. However, if they do qualify directly, their group games will be played on home soil. Each of the four host nations will be in separate qualifying groups. Two spots are also reserved for the highest-ranked teams among them that fail to qualify through other routes.
What are the venues for Euro 2028?
The quarter-finals will be hosted at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Glasgow’s Hampden Park, and Wembley. The Etihad Stadium is among five other English stadiums that will host matches. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Newcastle’s St James’s Park are the other venues for the 51-match tournament.
UK government goes big in terms of investment
As per the BBC, the UK government has invested £557 million to host Euro 2028, expecting a return of £3.2 billion through job creation, regional growth, and international visitor benefits. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said this tournament will inspire future generations and deliver billions in economic benefits. UEFA estimates that with an average stadium capacity of just under 60,000, more fans than ever before will attend matches at a European Championship finals.
Euro 2028 logo gets showcased
The official website revealed that all around the UK and Ireland, the new logo as well as host city logos were showcased at local events. These included light projections on famous landmarks and takeovers of digital screens in city centres.
At the heart of the brand is the UEFA EURO 2028 logo, featuring the iconic Henri Delaunay Trophy. This is a dynamic design that captures the spirit of festivity and connection, brought to life through vibrant colours inspired by the host nations. This brand identity reinforces the message that football is a language that unites the world – a statement read.
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