UEFA has recently announced that Merseyside will be hosting European Championship matches in 2028. However, to the disappointment of many Liverpool fans, Anfield will not be one of the venues.
Instead, Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock has been selected as the representative for Merseyside. This decision has raised questions about why Anfield, the iconic home of Liverpool Football Club, was not included in the final list.
The selection process for the host stadiums involved choosing a trimmed-down group of 10 football arenas, after an initial list of 14 had been compiled. Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the Etihad, St James’ Park, Villa Park, Hampden Park, Aviva Stadium in Dublin, and Casement Park in Belfast joined Everton’s under-construction ground on the final list. Interestingly, Old Trafford, London Stadium, Stadium of Light, and Croke Park in Dublin were all ditched.
Anfield’s omission from the list can be attributed to UEFA’s regulations regarding pitch size for international tournaments. According to UEFA guidelines, “the field of play must have the standard dimensions of 105m by 68m.”
Unfortunately, Anfield falls short of these dimensions, with its pitch measuring only 101 meters in length. As a result, it does not meet the eligibility criteria set by UEFA.
This is not the first time Anfield has been excluded from hosting major tournaments or finals due to its pitch size. The stadium was last used as a tournament venue during Euro 1996 when it hosted Group C matches between Italy, Russia, and the Czech Republic. It also hosted the quarter-final match between France and the Netherlands. However, due to its pitch size limitations, Anfield cannot be considered for hosting Champions League or Europa League finals either.
The decision to exclude Anfield from Euro 2028 may come as a surprise to many, considering its capacity of 53,394, which is set to increase to 61,000 after the completion of the Anfield Road stand redevelopment. Nonetheless, UEFA’s strict regulations prioritize standard pitch dimensions to ensure fair play and consistent playing conditions across all venues.
