Exclusion of Anfield and Old Trafford: The Euro 2028 Stadium Selection Story
In an exciting development for football fans, the UK and Ireland have successfully secured the bid to host the Euro 2028 championships, as confirmed by UEFA. However, amidst the celebration, it’s worth noting that some iconic stadiums will not play a part in this grand event.
The decision was sealed after Turkey formally withdrew its bid last week, following their joint effort with reigning European champions Italy. Instead of 2028, Turkey and Italy will jointly host the tournament in 2032. Meanwhile, Portugal and Spain expressed their intention to collaborate on a joint bid, and six Scandinavian nations also considered a joint venture, but both plans ultimately fell through.
This left the five-nation UK and Ireland bid, which had been a strong favorite throughout the process, as the chosen host. England manager Gareth Southgate expressed his excitement, calling it a “brilliant opportunity” for the co-hosts, emphasizing the potential home advantage for qualified teams.
However, in the journey to finalize the stadium selection, the UK and Ireland bid had to reduce their initial 14-stadium shortlist to just 10. Notably, several well-known stadiums did not make the cut, including Old Trafford, the London Stadium, the Stadium of Light, and Dublin’s Croke Park. Perhaps most surprising of all, Liverpool’s beloved Anfield was also excluded from the plans.
Anfield’s Omission Explained
Anfield’s absence from the final stadium selection comes as a significant disappointment to football enthusiasts. Known for its incredible atmosphere and rich history, Anfield is a footballing icon. However, UEFA’s regulations stipulate that for a pitch to host tournament games, its dimensions must measure 105 meters by 68 meters, a criterion that Anfield falls short of by 4 meters.
The proximity of the stands to the pitch prevents Liverpool from extending it to meet UEFA’s standards. This limitation has been a recurring issue for the club, preventing Anfield from hosting both the Champions League and Europa League finals. It also explains why the England national team has not graced the iconic turf since 2006. Anfield’s capacity is expected to increase to 61,000 after ongoing expansion work is completed, making it the fifth-largest stadium in the country. Nevertheless, Liverpool fans will have to accept that their pride and joy will not be showcased in all its glory during Euro 2028.
Old Trafford’s Exclusion for a Different Reason
On the other hand, Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, won’t be a host venue for Euro 2028, but the reason is quite different. The club could not guarantee that their 75,000-seat stadium would be ready in time for the tournament.
According to the Manchester Evening News, despite being initially shortlisted by the Football Association (FA) in their proposal to UEFA, Manchester United had already indicated their plans for re-development. This information became public knowledge in November 2022, and the club and FA concluded that it was best to remove Old Trafford from the list of potential host venues. There were concerns that the stadium, located in Greater Manchester, might not be in suitable condition to host matches.