Villa Park to host four Euro 2028 matches

Villa Park will host four matches at the Euro 2028 football championship, and the city has unveiled its official host city logo as the tournament was launched across the UK and Ireland.

The launch on 12 November saw celebration events in all the host cities, with the Library of Birmingham lit up to mark the occasion.

The Birmingham matches

The match schedule confirms that Villa Park will stage games on 11, 15, 20 and 27 June 2028.

The tournament will begin at the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff on Friday 9 June and end with the final at Wembley on Sunday 9 July. Matches will be played in nine stadiums across eight host cities, and more than three million tickets will be available, more than at any previous European Championship.

It will be the largest sporting event ever jointly staged by the UK and Ireland.

"An important milestone"

Councillor Sharon Thompson, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "It is wonderful to mark the unveiling of Birmingham's official host city logo for UEFA EURO 2028 UK and Ireland. We look forward to welcoming fans to Villa Park and this occasion marks an important milestone as we continue to work with partners including UEFA UK and Ireland 2028 team, Aston Villa and our fellow host cities and venues to deliver a safe, sustainable, and memorable tournament."

"This tournament is just not about delivering an unforgettable summer of football on the pitch but creating lasting social and economic benefits for our residents and businesses beyond the pitch."

Francesco Calvo, president of business operations at Aston Villa, said the club was incredibly proud. "Having previously hosted international tournament matches, we look forward to welcoming Europe's elite to our home once again."

Villa Park's tournament history

Villa Park has a long record of hosting major matches. It was a venue for the 1966 World Cup and for Euro 96, when England last hosted the European Championship, and it has staged many FA Cup semi-finals over the years. It also hosted the rugby sevens at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The ground is due to be expanded in the coming years, with plans approved to redevelop the North Stand and increase the capacity.

A golden decade of events

Euro 2028 is the latest major event to be secured for Birmingham following the Commonwealth Games. The city will host the European Athletics Championships at the Alexander Stadium in 2026, and Edgbaston will stage matches at the women's T20 World Cup next summer.

Birmingham has also been confirmed as part of the UK's bid to host the women's World Cup in 2035.

For businesses in the city, four matches will bring tens of thousands of fans from across Europe, filling hotels, bars and restaurants. The council says it wants the tournament to leave lasting benefits, from grassroots football to jobs and volunteering opportunities.