Wembley Stadium is set to undergo a major transformation in time for the Carabao Cup final, a change that could significantly enhance the matchday experience at the Home of Football. Since the new stadium opened in March 2007, replacing the iconic twin towers with its now-instantly-recognisable arch, very little about the venue has changed.
In fact, the only real change to the 90,000-seater over the past 19 years is the stature it has gained. While there were concerns that nothing could replace the old Wembley’s mystique, a wealth of historic moments - from FA Cup finals and European Championships (men’s and women’s) to concerts, boxing and more - has firmly re-established it as the most famous venue in the beautiful game, if not the world.
However, it was never going to remain exactly the same forever. It now appears that 2026 will mark the year Wembley evolves with the times - and in a twist many fans of a certain vintage will appreciate, the change represents a nostalgic return to something familiar.
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Wembley Stadium Set For Transformation Ahead of Carabao Cup Final
An inside view of the new Wembley Stadium, which has been the venue for FA Cup semi-finals since 2008..
According to The Sun, FA chiefs have begun installing close to 10,000 standing places in Wembley’s upper tier. The move will give the stadium the largest standing area in British football, reflecting the FA’s response to long-standing supporter calls for a return to terrace culture.
As a result, more than one in every eight fans at the Carabao Cup final in March - as well as future fixtures including England’s World Cup warm-up matches against Uruguay and Japan - will be able to stand. Wembley first introduced “railed seating” safe-standing areas in 2023, when Newcastle and Manchester United were each allocated 867 places for that season’s League Cup final.
The change follows a 2022 amendment to the law, introduced after sustained lobbying by fan groups, which ended the requirement for all-seater stadiums at major matches - a rule originally brought in following the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster.
In autumn, FA chiefs agreed proposals to expand standing areas, with the plans submitted to Wembley’s local safety authority at Brent Council, before later being accepted.
Spokesperson Releases Statement Amid Wembley's Safe-Standing Increase
An aerial shot of the Wembley Stadium arch.
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson confirmed the plans to widen the range of ways football fans can access matches in a statement to the tabloid newspaper. They said:
“We are currently in the process of installing railed seating on Level Five as part of a long-term plan to introduce an additional 10,000 licensed standing seats for football fans at Wembley Stadium."
The Carabao Cup trophy
"The initiative builds on a successful trial we started in 2023 after the Government’s revision of the all-seater policy, which allowed supporters the opportunity to stand in designated areas within the stadium. In March 2025, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) approved our application to expand the current licensed standing areas at Wembley Stadium.
“Around 5,000 seats have been installed so far, with the remaining seats scheduled to be in place for the 2026 Carabao Cup Final. We have listened to supporters’ calls for more options about how they choose to watch a football match and are delighted to bring licensed standing areas into a secure environment that places supporter safety at its heart.”