The home of Aston Villa, Villa Park, has been officially selected as one of the ten host venues for the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament, which will be jointly staged across the UK and Ireland.
Tournament Details and Host Nations
Euro 2028 will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, marking a major collaborative effort between the home nations. The tournament is scheduled to begin in Cardiff on 9 June 2028 and will culminate with the final at London's Wembley Stadium on 9 July 2028.
In a significant departure from previous home tournaments like the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96, the England team will not be based solely at Wembley. Instead, they will play matches at various venues across the country as they progress through the competition.
Villa Park's Role and Match Schedule
Villa Park in Birmingham is set to host a total of four matches during the European championship. Its schedule includes three group-stage games and one highly anticipated round of 16 knockout clash. This confirms the stadium's status as a top-tier footballing venue.
The allocation of matches means that should the England team finish second in their group, they could potentially play a knockout match on Merseyside. It is important to note that despite being co-hosts, the England team, managed by Thomas Tuchel, must still successfully qualify for the final tournament.
Wider Tournament Structure and Venue Strategy
The complete roster of host stadiums showcases a deliberate strategy to spread the tournament across the nations. Alongside Villa Park, other confirmed English venues include Tottenham's stadium, Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, Newcastle's St James' Park, and the Etihad in Manchester.
Matches will also be held in Dublin, Cardiff, and Glasgow. Wembley Stadium, while hosting the semi-finals and the final, will not stage any last-16 matches. These knockout games will be distributed across the eight other primary venues.
In total, Euro 2028 will feature 51 matches with 24 competing nations over 31 days. UEFA has confirmed that each stadium will host matches from at least two different groups to ensure a variety of teams and playing styles for local fans.
The tournament was launched with considerable fanfare, including a light display across Piccadilly Circus and other designated venues. Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt pledged that the host nations would deliver the "best ever" European Championships, focusing on creating a welcoming, safe, and sustainable event that leaves a lasting community legacy.
