UEFA has decided to maintain the increased squad size for EURO 2024, a change initially introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The squad size was bumped up from the traditional 23 players to 26 for the previous tournament, which will continue for the upcoming one.
This decision, which aligns with the 2022 World Cup’s approach, was made in response to requests from national team coaches. Originally, Euro 2024 was set to revert to the 23-player squad limit, but UEFA granted the coaches’ plea for a larger squad in early May.
The new rule allows for squads to consist of anywhere between 23 to 26 players, a flexibility that many nations will appreciate, especially considering the demanding schedule their star players have had to endure over the past year.
England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, had previously expressed his concerns about the potential reduction in squad size. He highlighted how the larger squad size in the last two tournaments allowed them to take calculated risks with players who weren’t initially match-fit.
The squads for Euro 2024 must be submitted a week before the tournament’s kick-off in Germany on June 14. It’s expected that many nations will announce their squads earlier, once their players are free from club commitments, to ensure all selected players are in good health.
