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Etihad Stadium given green light to host major Euro 2028 fixture amid ongoing £300m expansion

Etihad Stadium given green light to host major Euro 2028 fixture amid ongoing £300m expansion
Where will England play matches at Euro 2028? Photo by IMAGO/ PA Images

Euro 2028 is set to be held in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and although England aren't necessarily guaranteed to qualify for the tournament, unlike in previous years, there is already much talk around which stadiums will host England matches should they make the finals.

While the answer for the majority of the Three Lions' matches is Wembley Stadium, it has already been confirmed that one of their group games in the tournament will be held away from the national stadium, should they qualify.

Which stadiums will host England matches at Euro 2028?

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the stadium that has been selected to host the one England match away from Wembley Stadium is the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Manchester City's home stadium has reportedly beaten the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Villa Park and St James' Park to host the fixture in the summer of 2028.

While a full tournament schedule isn't due until next week, the same report in the Mail states that England's Round of 16 match at the tournament will also be played away from Wembley Stadium, should the Three Lions successfully navigate their group at the tournament.

At this stage, there is no indication which stadium will host this match, but the Etihad will be in contention once again alongside the other aforementioned stadiums.

Why the Etihad got the nod

Given that the majority of England matches are played in the capital, it is logical that the FA would elect to use a stadium in the north of England to host the match, in order to allow as many England fans as possible to watch the Three Lions at the tournament.

The Etihad Stadium is currently being renovated and will have a capacity of 61,747 in time for 2028. This will make it the second biggest stadium in the north of England, but as Old Trafford hasn't been selected to host matches at the tournament, it's the biggest available to the FA.

FGG says: Breaking tradition

During the 1966 World Cup and Euro 1998, England played all of their matches at Wembley Stadium, so this move is slightly out of left field from the FA. Considering the success that England enjoyed in both of those tournaments, it's a brave decision, but one that is only likely to bring more widespread support across the nation.

Andy is a freelance sports writer with ten years of experience covering major sporting events across Europe. He has also been a season ticket holder at Old Trafford since 2008 and has visited over 40 football stadiums in the United Kingdom and abroad following the Reds.

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