Euro 2028, hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland in June and July, will have nine stadiums as venues for the games. Wembley, in London, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, also in the English capital, top the list alongside the Aviva Stadium, in Dublin. Hampden Park, in Glasgow, and the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, complete the main venues.
Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Aston Villa’s Villa Park, Newcastle United’s St James’ Park and Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool were also chosen. These venues meet strict UEFA criteria such as minimum capacity and modern infrastructure.
The selection prioritizes arenas with at least 30 thousand seats, distributed to cover the host nations in a balanced way.
- Capacity over 60 thousand: Wembley (90 thousand).
- Between 50 thousand and 60 thousand: Tottenham Hotspur (62 thousand), Etihad (53 thousand).
- Over 40k: Villa Park (42k), St James’ Park (52k), Hill Dickinson (projected 52k).
Reasons for exclusion from Anfield
UEFA guidelines require exact dimensions for the pitch, measuring 105 meters long by 68 wide.
The Anfield pitch measures just 101 meters in length, making it ineligible for the tournament. This measure, standard for Premier League games, does not meet the entity’s international standards.
Liverpool, as host city, will use Everton’s new stadium to make up for their absence.
Structural problems at Old Trafford
Manchester United’s stadium, opened in 1910, faces concerns over its age and current condition.
Plans to renovate or build a new arena for 100,000 people have been announced, but work will only progress after 2028.
UEFA chose to avoid the risk of unavailability during the event. Neighboring Etihad takes on Manchester’s role in the competition.
Expansion plans at Emirates
The Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal since 2006, currently has a capacity of 60,704 seats.
The club is evaluating projects to increase this number to more than 70 thousand, which would require significant interventions.
Choosing Tottenham and Wembley for London gives Arsenal flexibility in modernization deadlines.
UEFA criteria for arenas
The European entity defines minimum requirements to guarantee safety and quality in games. Capacities range from 30,000 to 60,000 seats, with preference for at least two arenas above 50,000.
Field dimensions and infrastructure, such as screens and accessibility, are mandatory. Stadiums undergoing renovation are at risk of exclusion if they do not guarantee availability.
Historical context of the headquarters
Wembley hosted the Euro 1996 final and 1966 World Cup games.
The Principality Stadium, in Wales, hosted Euro 2016 matches, with a capacity of 74,000.
Hampden Park, in Scotland, has a tradition of hosting international events since 1903.
The Aviva Stadium, in Ireland, was built in 2010 and accommodates 51 thousand fans.
These locations combine history and modernity for the tournament.
Impact on host cities
Liverpool wins with Everton’s new stadium, designed for 52,000 seats and completed in 2025.
Manchester focuses on Etihad, which has recently undergone expansions to 53,000 seats.
London focuses its efforts on Wembley and Tottenham, both with advanced technologies.
Distribution avoids overload in a single region.
Perspectives for clubs
Manchester United is studying options such as upgrading Old Trafford or migrating to a new location.
Arsenal prioritizes comfort and revenue with expansion, keeping Emirates as a reference.
Liverpool, despite exclusion, benefits from proximity to Hill Dickinson for local events.
Euro 2028 boosts investment in football infrastructure in the United Kingdom.
