Euro 2028 will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland with Villa Park selected to be one of the nine chosen venues
Villa Park will play host to a total of four games at Euro 2028
Villa Park will play host to a total of four games at Euro 2028(Image: (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images))
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Villa Park has been chosen to host four Euro 2028 games, including a round of 16 clash. The home of Aston Villa was chosen to be one of the nine stadiums to host matches during the major international tournament in three years' time.
It has now been revealed that Villa Park will be the venue of four matches in total, which includes a round of 16 clash and three group-stage games.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has pledged that the home nations and Ireland will deliver the "best ever" Euros following a glamorous launch event in London. The specifics for Euro 2028 - co-hosted by England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland - have been disclosed, with the tournament commencing in Cardiff on 9 June and the final taking place at Wembley on 9 July.
However, this marks a significant shift from previous "home tournaments", such as the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96, where England just played at Wembley. This time around, they will take the nation on the road, with Tottenham, Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, Villa Park, Newcastle's St James' Park and the Etihad all hosting matches.
Dublin, Cardiff and Glasgow are also set to host games, and should England finish second in their group, they could end up playing on Merseyside. Despite being co-hosts, Thomas Tuchel's side still need to qualify.
Wembley will stage the semi-finals and the final, but none of the last-16 matches as they will take place across the eight other venues, meaning England will be on the road from their north-west London headquarters if they progress to that round.
In total, there are 51 matches featuring 24 nations over 31 days, with each stadium hosting at least two different groups to guarantee variety.
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The tournament was unveiled with considerable ceremony, featuring a light display across Piccadilly Circus and other Euro 2028 venues throughout the UK and Ireland. The Euro 2028 logo, showcasing the iconic Henri Delaunay Trophy, is described by UEFA as "a dynamic design that captures the spirit of festivity and connection, brought to life through vibrant colours inspired by the host nations."
FA chair Hewitt, who also chairs UK & Ireland 2028, said: "Today marks a proud milestone for football across the UK and Ireland as we celebrate the launch of UEFA EURO 2028. Working with UEFA and our football and government partners, we will deliver the best-ever EURO. 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.
"We are building an inspiring event – a welcoming, safe and sustainable UEFA EURO that will create lasting community benefits far beyond the pitch. The countdown is truly on now to what will be an unforgettable summer of football."
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin commented: "The host nations, where the game first took shape, are eager to welcome millions of fans into legendary stadiums. The fans will be the beating heart of this tournament."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed: "UEFA EURO 2028 will be the biggest sporting event ever jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland and, as a lifelong football fan, I know how much international competitions like this matter. This tournament will bring fans from across Europe to iconic footballing cities like Birmingham and Glasgow, inspire the next generation to lace up their boots, and deliver billions in economic benefits."
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added: "The summer of 2028 will be a massive moment for the whole of the UK and Ireland as we welcome football fans from across Europe. Football reaches people like nothing else – it crosses every boundary, speaks every language, and has the power to bring together communities in ways that other things simply cannot."