Euro 2028: Cardiff to host opening match, Wembley to stage semi-finals and final

Cardiff will host the opening game of Euro 2028, with the semi-finals and final scheduled to take place at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Nine venues across four host nations – England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland – will stage the 24-team tournament.

Matches were also set to be played in Northern Ireland, but Belfast’s Casement Park was removed as an option because of a lack of funding.

Uefa’s decision to play the first game in the Welsh capital was confirmed as the tournament was officially launched on Wednesday.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said: “This will be the first time that ‘The Red Wall’ – our passionate Wales fans – 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.”

Unlike in previous Euros, host nations will have to qualify for the 2028 tournament, however, they would be guaranteed to play their group games on home turf if they do so directly.

The four host nations will each be in separate qualifying groups, with two spots also allocated to the highest-ranked of those sides who don’t make it from their various qualification routes.

The quarter-finals will be held at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Glasgow’s Hampden Park and Wembley – which was also used as a semi-final and final venue in 1996, and for the delayed 2020 edition.

Etihad Stadium, where the Three Lions would play their opening group game if they qualify directly, before switching to Wembley, is one of five other stadiums being used in England.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and St James’ Park in Newcastle are the others that will be utilised across the 51 matches overall.

The qualifying draw will take place in Belfast on 6 December 2026.

Speaking at a launch event, Debbie Hewitt, chair of UK & Ireland 2028 Limited, promised to deliver the “best ever” European Championship.

She added: “It will be a tournament for the fans and a festival of everything we love about the game – its passion and ability to bring people together.”

Meanwhile, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: “The host nations, where the game first took shape, are eager to welcome millions of fans into legendary stadiums, providing the right stage for a festival of emotions.”