With the UK and Ireland officially selected as hosts for Euro 2028, excitement has been building — but the announcement of the chosen stadiums has left many fans scratching their heads. While major arenas such as Wembley, Hampden Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium made the cut, two iconic English grounds were nowhere to be found: Liverpool’s Anfield and Manchester United’s Old Trafford.
Their absence quickly became one of the biggest talking points surrounding UEFA’s venue list.
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Why Anfield Was Left Out
Anfield is one of the most atmospheric and historic stadiums in world football, but it didn’t meet one crucial requirement. UEFA insists that all Euro pitches must measure 105m by 68m — and Anfield’s playing surface is about 4 metres too short.
Because the stands sit extremely close to the pitch, Liverpool cannot expand the dimensions without major structural changes. This same issue has previously ruled Anfield out of hosting Champions League and Europa League finals, and it’s also why the England national team hasn’t played there since 2006.
The last time Anfield staged matches for a major tournament was Euro 1996, but for Euro 2028, Merseyside’s role will instead be fulfilled by Everton’s new 52,769-seat Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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Why Old Trafford Was Also Excluded
Old Trafford’s omission stems from a different issue entirely. While the stadium remains one of the most famous in the world, its aging structure and ongoing redevelopment plans created too much uncertainty about its future condition.
Although initially included in the FA’s early shortlist, Manchester United informed officials that they could not guarantee the stadium would be ready. With plans now shifting toward a complete rebuild and a vision for a new 100,000-capacity home, the club agreed it was safer to withdraw Old Trafford from the Euro 2028 proposal.
The timeline for redevelopment remains unclear, making it impossible for UEFA to rely on the venue for the tournament.
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In Summary
Despite their prestige and global fanbases, both stadiums were ruled out for entirely different reasons:
Anfield — Too small to meet UEFA’s pitch-size regulations.
Old Trafford — No certainty it will be ready due to major reconstruction plans.
Euro 2028 will still feature top-level venues across the UK and Ireland, but fans visiting England won’t be seeing matches at two of the country’s most iconic football grounds.
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