UEFA mulls increasing Euro 2024 squad sizes to 26 players after coach consultations

UEFA is contemplating an increase in squad sizes for the upcoming European Championship in Germany to 26 players after consultations with coaches.

Talks were held in Dusseldorf on Monday with international managers whose teams had qualified for Euro 2024. UEFA stated that they had taken note of the various opinions shared and a final decision would be made in the coming weeks.

The proposal was discussed during a wider two-day workshop for finalists and will now be reviewed by UEFA’s national team competitions committee and executive committee. Currently, squads are limited to 23 players, reverting to regulations used before Euro 2020, where three additional players were permitted to mitigate against potential Covid outbreaks in the squad.

Uefa’s statement added: “The positive discussions highlighted different points of view among coaches, with some expressing a desire to increase the squad size. 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.”

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England boss Gareth Southgate had previously been in favour of 23-man squads but recently spoke of a preference for three extra players to cope with a demanding end to a domestic season “complicated” by personnel returning from long-term injuries.

The FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League finals are all to be played after Southgate names his 26-man provisional squad on 21 May, with many of his players likely to be involved in those matches and England then have two more friendlies in June.