Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool supporters hoping to see their famous home transform into a Euro 2028 venue will be disappointed, as Anfield has been ruled ineligible to host matches during the upcoming tournament across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Despite its storied history and world-renowned atmosphere, UEFA regulations have prevented the stadium from making the cut.
The reason behind Anfield’s exclusion centres on pitch dimensions.
UEFA requires all host venues for major tournaments like the European Championship to have playing surfaces measuring exactly 105 metres in length by 68 metres in width.
Anfield’s pitch falls short, measuring just 101 metres long – four metres below the mandatory requirement.
Liverpool’s inability to extend the pitch stems from the proximity of the stands to the field of play.
The closeness of Anfield’s famous Kop and other stands, which helps create one of football’s most intimidating atmospheres, physically prevents the club from expanding the pitch to meet UEFA’s specifications.
During the recent Anfield Road End expansion, which increased capacity to 61,000, Liverpool had the opportunity to address this issue but opted against it.
Extending the pitch would have required extensive alterations to the lower tier, including costly and disruptive work on entry and exit points—a decision ultimately deemed too complicated.
This isn’t the first time Anfield’s pitch size has caused problems. The stadium has been unable to host Champions League or Europa League finals for the same reason, and England haven’t played there since 2006.
Meanwhile, the full list of the Euro 2026 venues has been officially revealed by UEFA, with Everton’s brand-new Hill-Dickinson stadium getting the nod on Merseyside:
Cardiff: National Stadium of Wales
Dublin: Dublin Arena
Glasgow: Hampden Park
Newcastle: St James’ Park
Manchester: Manchester City Stadium
Liverpool: Everton Stadium
Birmingham: Villa Park
London: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
London: Wembley Stadium
Stadiums will stage a minimum of two different groups to provide local fans with a variety of teams playing in their host city.
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