The bizarre reason why Anfield is banned from hosting Euro 2028 matches

The list of host stadiums was released yesterday

18+ Be Gamble Aware

The next European Championships will be co-hosted by the home nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and the full stadium schedule has now been announced.

While the opening match will take place in Cardiff, and the final at London's Wembley Stadium, fans were quick to notice one striking omission from the list: Anfield.

In its place representing Liverpool is the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton's new state of the art sporting arena.

The reason why Everton's ground — rather than Anfield — has been selected is down to a bizarre UEFA rule.

The dimensions of Liverpool's historic pitch have rendered it ineligible.

Per regulations, "the field of play must have the standard dimensions of 105m by 68m," and Anfield's pitch is only
101 metres in length.

So, by a margin of just four metres, Anfield was barred from inclusion in the tournament.

The full list of stadiums are as follows: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Dublin's Aviva Stadium, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Cardiff's Principality Stadium. Manc City's Etihad Stadium, Villa Park in Birmingham, St James' Park on Newcastle and Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The tournament kicks off on the 9th of June at the Cardiff Principality stadium.

Unless they're successful in the USA World Cup next year, the Three Lions will go into the Euro 2028 as major favourites.

England have been eliminated in the final at both of the last editions of the tournament.