England will co-host the 2028 European Championship alongside Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, with the tournament set to begin on 9 June 2028. Despite being one of the host nations, England's national team is not automatically qualified and must earn their place through the standard qualification process. This rule applies to all host countries, according to the format outlined by UEFA. England's journey in the qualification cycle begins with their Nations League opener against Spain on Saturday, a competition that offers a secondary route to the finals for teams failing to qualify directly. Thomas Tuchel is currently in charge of the England team, and while qualification is expected, no spot is guaranteed. BBC Sport has invited fans to predict the starting lineup for England's Euro 2028 opener, using insights from its panel of experts as a guide. The public can select their preferred XI via an interactive tool on the BBC website. The Nations League match against Spain serves as the first competitive test under Tuchel's leadership, setting the tone for the long road to the tournament.
England must qualify for Euro 2028 even as co-host, meaning no automatic spot is assured despite home advantage. This raises the stakes for early matches like the Nations League opener against Spain, where performance directly impacts tournament access.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
