Cardiff’s National Stadium of Wales will take centre stage at UEFA EURO 2028, hosting the opening match on Friday 9 June 2028 and a major Quarter-Final clash, marking one of the most significant sporting moments in Welsh football history.
As part of a tournament staged across the UK & Ireland, the Championship will feature nine world-class stadia, eight iconic Host Cities and a schedule designed to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans and players alike.
A global football stage comes to Cardiff
UEFA EURO 2028 is taking place across the UK and Ireland where Europe’s top 24 national teams will compete in a 31-day, 51-match tournament, attended by more than three million spectators and watched by a global television audience of upwards of two billion people. Contested every four years, the UEFA European Championship has showcased the continent’s finest football talent since 1960 and is now the third largest sporting event in the world.
Wales and Cardiff’s role is central to the drama. The National Stadium of Wales will host the tournament’s very first match, setting the tone for a month-long celebration of elite football. Should Wales qualify directly, all of Cymru’s group-stage matches will be played in Cardiff, giving The Red Wall the chance to support their team on home soil for the first time in a major international tournament.
The stadium will also host one of the four Quarter-Final fixtures, adding another high-profile match to Wales’ EURO 2028 calendar.
“A moment of immense pride for our nation”
FAW Chief Executive Noel Mooney welcomed the announcement, saying: “To have Cardiff and the National Stadium of Wales host the opening match of UEFA EURO 2028 is a moment of immense pride for our nation. This will be the first time that The Red Wall – our passionate Cymru fans – will experience a major international tournament on home soil.
“It’s a truly historic occasion that will unite communities, inspire future generations and showcase the very best of Welsh football and culture on the world stage, which is a key aim of the FAW’s Our Wales / Ein Cymru strategy.
“Alongside the opening fixture, Cardiff will also host a quarter-final match, ensuring that Wales plays a central role in delivering an unforgettable UEFA EURO 2028.”
A tournament designed with the fans in mind
The match schedule highlights include:
- 51 matches across 31 days
- 24 teams in action
- Host nations playing group games at home (subject to qualification)
- Three kick-off times: 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00 BST
- Round of 16 matches at every host stadium
- Quarter-Finals hosted in Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow and London
- Travel distances limited wherever possible, with sustainable public transport encouraged
- Host cities staging a minimum of two different groups
Full matchday details will be confirmed following the final tournament draw in 2027.
The match schedule is available here.
A stadium steeped in welsh sporting history
Since opening in 1999, the National Stadium of Wales has become one of Europe’s most recognisable sporting venues. With a capacity of more than 70,000 and a pioneering retractable roof – the first of its kind in the UK – the stadium has hosted unforgettable moments across football, rugby, concerts and world events.
From UEFA Champions League Finals to Rugby World Cup clashes, the stadium has consistently delivered passionate atmospheres and iconic sporting memories. Its central location in Cardiff ensures that fans from across Wales and beyond can enjoy seamless access to one of the nation’s most important cultural landmarks.
