Everything you need to know about Euro 2028

Last Updated on 13 November 2025

For the first time ever, the UK and Ireland will come together to host one of the biggest football tournaments in history, Euro 2028.

For Wales, the spotlight couldn’t shine brighter as Cardiff will host the opening match on June 9, 2028, in front of 74,000 fans.

Here’s all you need to know about Euro 2028.

Euro 2028: The hosts and the stadiums

Euro 2028 will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland and it will be the first major tournament ever jointly staged across all five nations.

Nine venues will stage the 51 matches. This includes iconic grounds like Wembley Stadium, Hampden Park, Dublin Arena, Etihad Stadium, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, and of course, Cardiff’s National Stadium of Wales.

Cardiff, in particular, will host six games in total. Four in the group stage, one in the last 16, and a quarter-final on July 1.

If Wales qualify, they will play all three of their group games on home soil, a moment destined to go down in Welsh sporting history.

Yes, Wales NEED to qualify, just like every other nation

Yes. Unlike older formats where host nations automatically qualified, UEFA confirmed that only two of the five hosts are guaranteed automatic spots this time around.

That means England, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland will all enter the qualifying campaign, which kicks off in March 2027.

If at least three hosts qualify normally, no problem. But if more than two fail to make it, the two highest-ranked non-qualifiers will be given automatic entry.

The others will have to fight it out in the play-offs.

But as per BBC, Football Association of Wales CEO Noel Mooney remains confident. “We’ve run the algorithms, it’s extremely likely we’ll get there.” He said, crediting Craig Bellamy’s fresh approach and strong Welsh squad depth.

How Euro 2028 qualifying works

The qualification process for Euro 2028 mirrors the one used for Euro 2024:

24 teams will compete in the finals.

12 qualifying groups will determine the automatic spots. With the group winners and best runners-up go straight through.

The rest will compete in Nations League-linked play-offs in March 2028.

The draw for qualifying will take place on December 6, 2026, in Belfast. All host nations will be drawn into separate groups to avoid facing each other before the tournament.

The economic and cultural impact of Euro 2028

Beyond football, Euro 2028 is a massive boost for the host nations, especially Wales. A total of £740 million has been committed by UK and Irish governments, with Wales investing £30 million.

The expected return? Around £3.6 billion in socio-economic benefits, with £250 million projected for Wales alone. Hotels, restaurants, and local businesses are expected to thrive, while Wales gains priceless exposure as a global footballing nation.

As per Mooney, “It’s not just six matches. It’s six mega-events, and the world will be watching Cymru.”

Euro 2028 – Key dates to remember

Tournament dates: June 9 – July 9, 2028

Opening match: National Stadium of Wales, Cardiff

Final: Wembley Stadium, London

Qualifying draw: December 6, 2026 (Belfast)

Qualifying begins: March 2027

Play-offs: March 2028