Major St James' Park announcement as UEFA confirm key Newcastle dates amid new stadium plans
Newcastle United’s St James’ Park has been confirmed as a host of the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament.
The announcement comes amid the club’s plans to expand the current stadium or build a new stadium in the city, which have so far yet to progress beyond the initial planning stages.
St James’ Park previously hosted three group stage matches at Euro 1996 but has since been expanded from 36,649 to 52,264, as of the 2025/26 season.
Euro 2028 will see England, Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland co-host the tournament with St James’ Park chosen as one of the nine host stadiums ahead of the likes of Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and Liverpool’s Anfield.
Euro 2028 host stadiums
In addition to St James’ Park, Wembley Stadium will host the final for the second time in three European Championship tournaments, having hosted the Euro 2020 final, which England lost on penalties to Italy.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Etihad Stadium (Manchester City), Hill Dickinson Stadium (Everton) and Villa Park (Aston Villa) complete the list of host stadiums in England.
Hampden Park in Glasgow will be Scotland’s host stadium while Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium will host for Wales and Republic of Ireland, respectively.
The Gazette has launched a new WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
UEFA has confirmed that St James’ Park will host four Euro 2028 group stage matches as well as one last-16 game in June 2028.
The five dates for games at St James’ Park are:
Group games
- Monday 12th June 2028
- Thursday 15th June 2028
- Saturday 17th June 2028
- Tuesday 20th June 2028
Last 16 game
- Sunday 25th June 2028
Football is BACK - subscribe to our Newcastle United newsletter for all the news straight to your inbox
The announcement comes as Newcastle City Council and UEFA joined together to officially launch the tournament and unveil the host city logo for Newcastle in front of more than 2,000 people at a special event at St James’ STACK outside the stadium.
In addition, the Tyne Bridge and Civic Centre were lit up blue, one of the tournament colours.
“It is anticipated that the tournament will generate up to £3.6billion of socio-economic benefits for the UK and Ireland between 2028 and 2031,” a Newcastle City Council statement read.
“Organisers also say that local businesses, supplies and communities within Host Cities will see direct economic gains, while dedicated training and volunteering initiatives will enhance skills development and open pathways into employment across the regions.”
Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “The announcement that Newcastle will host five UEFA EURO 2028 matches is absolutely fantastic news for our city. We’re a football-mad city, and as Newcastle United has shown, the atmosphere at St James’ Park makes it one of the most exciting grounds to play at in the country. Visiting fans love coming here, and we can’t wait to welcome supporters from across Europe to our wonderful city.
“As a lifelong Newcastle United supporter and season ticket holder, I’m thrilled that international football will be coming to St James’ Park on such a major scale. We all remember the excitement of Euro ’96, but UEFA EURO 2028 promises to be even bigger and better.
“I’m also delighted to see the official host city logo unveiled. The Tyne Bridge is such an iconic symbol for Newcastle. It represents not only our city, but our pride, our spirit, and our warm welcome to visitors. Seeing it featured in this way is truly special.
“We’ve all seen how visiting fans can transform our city during major tournaments, and I can’t wait to see the famous fan walks to St James’ Park and the atmosphere they’ll bring.
“We’re determined to play our part in creating a tournament to remember, one that will be brilliant both on and off the pitch. Euro 2028 will be an unforgettable summer of football, for players, supporters, and everyone across our communities.
“This is about more than football, it’s about showcasing Newcastle on the international stage. Hosting UEFA EURO 2028 will bring a huge boost to our local economy, with hundreds of thousands of fans bringing millions of pounds into our city, supporting local businesses, and helping to attract investment. It will have a lasting impact, inspiring communities and creating opportunities for years to come. I can’t wait!”