Why Anfield and Old Trafford FAILED to make UK and Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2028 stadium list

Manchester United and Liverpool’s iconic venues of Old Trafford and Anfield respectively failed to make the Euro 2028 bid, with one stadium not meeting UEFA’s regulations.

The UK and the Republic of Ireland have launched a bid together to host UEFA’s prestigious tournament, which will run from June to July 2028.

Turkey, who failed in their Euro bids for 2012 and 2016, are the only other country outside of the UK and Ireland’s joint-bid vying for the Euro 2028 rights.

The UK and Ireland’s 14-stadium shortlist submitted in its dossier bid in 2022 included Old Trafford, but Liverpool’s Anfield failed to make the cut at the time.

Everton’s new stadium under construction at Bramley-Moore Dock and Belfast’s Casement Park, which is being redeveloped, both made the 14-stadium shortlist.

However, Old Trafford has since been dropped alongside the Stadium of Light, the London Stadium and Dublin’s Croke Park in the final 10-stadium list.

According to The Sun, United executives ‘pulled the plug on their bid to be a host stadium’ after meeting with the FA.

Liverpool, on the other hand, were unable to see Anfield as a host stadium for the Euro 2028 bid after the venue was deemed ineligible due to missing out on a UEFA regulation.

The Sun claims that UEFA’s regulations outline pitch specifications for major international tournaments, with pitches requiring dimensions of 105m by 68m.

Anfield failed to meet the aforementioned regulation as the pitch is 101m long, despite meeting the 68m requirement stated by Euro 2028 organisers UEFA.

Liverpool are unable to extend the size of the pitch to 105m ‘because of the proximity of the stands’ behind each net, according to the newspaper.

Wembley Stadium, which hosted the Euro 2020 final where England lost to Italy on penalties, is the biggest stadium in the final 10 venues submitted in the joint bid.

Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, which can host over 73,000 people, and the 62,850-seat Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are the two largest venues after Wembley in the joint bid.

UEFA is expected to announce the tournament host(s) out of the UK and Ireland or Turkey in September 2023.