UEFA has declared that teams can have 26-player squads for this summer’s European Championship in Germany.
This decision, ratified by UEFA’s executive committee after the national competitions committee supported the expansion in April, marks a continuation of the increased squad sizes allowed during Euro 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although initially planning to return to the standard 23-player squads for Euro 2024, UEFA opted to continue with larger squads following the precedent set at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which occurred mid-season.
While teams are not obligated to utilize the full 26 slots, they must submit a roster of at least 23 players to UEFA by June 7.
This update has been positively received by many coaches, including Netherlands’ Ronald Koeman, who previously criticized the reduction plan as “absurd.” England’s Gareth Southgate, who had favored smaller squads, revised his view in light of numerous injuries in the Premier League this season.
Southgate is set to announce his team on May 21, following the Premier League’s conclusion. Euro 2024 kicks off on June 14 with Scotland facing host nation Germany, and England begins their quest on June 16 against Serbia.