In response to calls from national team coaches, UEFA has expressed openness to potentially increasing squad sizes to 26 players for Euro 2024 in Germany.
This consideration comes after the Netherlands’ coach, Ronald Koeman, highlighted the absurdity of adhering to the traditional 23-player roster given the current injury rates in football.
The precedent for larger squads was set during Euro 2020, held in 2021, when UEFA permitted 26-man rosters to accommodate pandemic-related health protocols.
Despite reverting to 23-player squads for the upcoming tournament, UEFA is willing to re-evaluate this decision.
UEFA will engage with coaches and officials from the 24 qualifying teams at a workshop in Düsseldorf on April 8, where the governing body will gather and assess their perspectives on squad sizes.
Koeman, advocating for an increase, emphasized the modern footballer’s load-bearing challenges, a sentiment echoed by Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann following the Netherlands’ recent defeat.
England’s Gareth Southgate, while not actively lobbying for larger squads, recognized the benefits of additional players in managing injury risks.
The consensus among the 24 coaches on this matter remains uncertain.
Euro 2024, set to take place across ten German cities, will run from June 14 to July 14, potentially featuring expanded teams if UEFA’s deliberations lead to a policy change.
