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UEFA set to increase Euros squad size from 23 to 26

Published 11:23 23 Apr 2024 BST

Updated 11:25 23 Apr 2024 BST

Simon Kelly
UEFA set to increase Euros squad size from 23 to 26

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The proposal was tabled at a coaches meeting earlier this month.

UEFA are set to announce that the squad size for each nation during the Euro 2024 Championship will increase from 23 to 26 players.

The decision comes after a UEFA vote on Monday gave the go ahead to expand the squad sizes, following a suggestion made during a meeting of all the nations' coaches in Dusseldorf earlier this month.

The squad increase to 26 was also in place for Euro 2021 - a decision that came about due to Covid protocols at the time.

The 26-man-squad is now set to become the norm going forward following the decision to keep the number of players allowed by each nation for 2024.

While the decision is yet to be made concrete, the Daily Mail report that the proposal has been given strong backing by all nations "amid player welfare issues."

UEFA set to increase Euros squad size from 23 to 26

At the end of the coaches' meeting, where the expansion was first tabled, UEFA released a statement saying: "The positive discussions highlighted different points of view among coaches, with some expressing a desire to increase the squad size, with more choice available, the threat of injuries and the intense physical demands placed upon players.

“Others stated their preference to cap the squad size at 23, pointing out the difficulty in training with additional players, group management and the increased financial burdens placed upon national associations.

“UEFA has taken note of the various opinions and points of view shared, with a final decision to be made in the coming weeks.”

With the Euros now just eight weeks away, the announcement should come as a relief to Euros coaches who are beginning to encounter selection issues ahead of the competition.

England manager Gareth Southgate will be among those given a welcome boost by the expansion, which will allow him some breathing room when it comes to the controversial selection process for his Euros squad.

Of the players knocking on the door for a seat on the plane are the likes of Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, who is enjoying an incredible debut season in the Premier League.

The difficult choice between whether Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney are among the strikers getting a nod will also surely be eased for Southgate ahead of the competition.

Euro 2024 gets under way on June 14 when hosts Germany face Steve Clarke’s Scotland in the Allianz Arena in Munich.

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