Cardiff's national stadium welcomed the European club final in the year 2017
Cardiff will stage the opening game of Euro 2028, while penultimate matches and championship match are set for Wembley in London
Nine venues spread throughout four co-hosts - the UK and Ireland - will stage the major competition
Games were earlier considered for the northern territory, but Belfast's Casement Park was excluded due to financial constraints
UEFA's decision to play the initial fixture in Cardiff was announced as the championship was formally announced on midweek
"This represents the first time that '{The Red Wall' - our passionate Wales fans - will enjoy a significant championship on native ground," commented national association top administrator the organization's leader
Different from previous Euros, participating countries must qualify for the future competition, though they would be promised to compete in initial matches on domestic soil if they secure immediate qualification
The four host nations will each be in different qualification pools, with two spots also allocated for the top-placed of those nations who fail to qualify through standard entry paths
Tournament Structure
Last eight matches will be held at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, Dublin's Aviva Stadium, Scotland's national stadium and Wembley - which had earlier staged penultimate and championship matches in the 1996 edition and for the postponed tournament
Etihad Stadium, where the Three Lions would play their opening group game if they secure immediate qualification, before moving to Wembley, is among several other venues being utilized in the host nation
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium and St James' Park are the additional venues that will be used across the 51 matches in total
Economic Impact
The UK government says it is allocating over half a billion pounds to organize the tournament but expects a financial gain of £3.2bn due to work generation, regional growth and benefits from international visitors
"This tournament will be the largest competition ever co-organized by the UK and Ireland and, as a lifelong football fan, I know how much global tournaments like this matter," stated UK Prime Minister
With an standard seating arrangement of just under 60,000, the governing body predicts that greater attendance than ever before will experience fixtures at a continental competition
Country Views
The Football Association's chief executive said: "The size of the competition will have a substantial advantage on communities throughout the country"
The equivalent official at the Football Association of Ireland, David Courell, continued: "The passionate followers are known for their dedication and we anticipate providing them, as well as the countless tourists who will come to the country for the championship, with the type of euphoric experience that they will cherish forever"
The head of the national organization, Ian Maxwell, said: "There's frequent conversation about the impact of the game and the impact it can make on a consistent basis across the nation, far beyond the confines of a pitch"
The entry selection will occur in Belfast on December 6th, 2026
