10 English stadiums put on standby as venues for Euro 2020

10 English stadiums have been put on standby as venues for Euro 2020 and it’s got a mixed reaction from fans on social media.

Wembley Stadium is reportedly and currently set to stage seven matches at the much anticipated upcoming competition, but if England hosts the entire tournament, another nine venues are set to play their part it would seem.

The Euros are currently scheduled to be staged in 12 countries across Europe but there are doubts as to the viability of the plan amid the ongoing pandemic, and with vaccines being rolled out as well as case numbers going down, England could be the on viable solution to host the tournament and have fans in the stands.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered to host the summer competition outright and UEFA Euro 2020 chiefs are said to have welcomed it.

As things stand, Wembley is due to stage seven matches including all three of England’s group games, a last-16 tie, both semi-finals and the final.

According to the Government’s roadmap, the national stadium would be able to stage a capacity crowd for the latter stages when restrictions are lifted from the 21st of June.

UEFA will confirm the schedule for the Euros next month but will insist on any and all host countries committing to having fans inside venues.

If England was to stage the Euros in full, the other stadiums reportedly being lined up to host matches are the following:

Old Trafford

Capacity: 74,140 – Last International fixture: England 0-1 Spain, 7 February 2007

Old Trafford is one of the most famous stadiums in the world and boasts a capacity of 74,140 seats, making it is the largest club football stadium (and second-largest football stadium overall after Wembley Stadium) in the United Kingdom, and the eleventh-largest in Europe.

It’s hosted some big events including the 1966 FIFA World Cup, 1995 Rugby League World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, 2003 UEFA Champions League Final, 2012 Olympic Football, 2021 Rugby League World Cup and UEFA Women’s Euro 2021.

Villa Park

Capacity: 42,682 – Last International fixture: England 0-0 Netherlands, 9 February 2005

It’s Birmingham’s largest stadium and home to Aston Villa, with the ground becoming the first English ground to host international games in three different centuries, making it hard to overlook one of Euro 96’s most important grounds.

The iconic site holds a legacy which is challenged by Leicester City’s King Power Stadium for the Midland’s Euro 2020 venue.

St James’ Park

Capacity: 52,305 – Last International fixture: England 3-0 Turkey, 18 August 2004

With a seating capacity of 52,305 seats, it is the eighth largest football stadium in England.

It’s been Newcastle United’s home since 1892 and has been used for football since 1880.

Besides club football, it’s also been used for international football, at the 2012 Olympics, for the rugby league Magic Weekend, rugby union World Cup, Premiership and England Test matches, charity football events, rock concerts, and as a set for film and reality television.

Etihad Stadium

Capacity: 55,017 – Last International fixture: England 2-1 Turkey, 22 May 2016

The Etihad was purpose built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, And then Manchester City acquired the stadium the following year after leaving long-term home Maine Road.

It was recently upgraded in 2015, though holds 20,000 less than what Old Trafford does.

Stadium of Light

Capacity: 49,000 – Last International fixture: England 2-1 Australia, 27 May 2016

Although slightly smaller than rivals Newcastle United’s St. James’ Park, Sunderland’s stadium is all one of the more modern stadiums in English football after opening in 1997.

It’s recently hosted an England fixture, and it seems to be one of the frontrunners for the north-east’s pick of stadiums, despite The Black Cats currently plying their trade in League One, then again, you wouldn’t want to turn do Stadium MK either.

Anfield

Capacity: 53,394 – Last International fixture: Brazil 2-0 Croatia, 3 June 2018

The last few years has seen Anfield return to glory with Liverpool’s impressive displays in the league and in Europe.

Their stadium saw an expansion in 2016, the Main Stand increased capacity by 8,500, making it one of the largest all-seater stands in Europe, while the much loved Kop means this stadium has earned the status to host fixtures at Euro 2020 – if the responsibility lies with the UK.

London Stadium

Capacity: 60,000 – Last International fixture: N/A

After hosting the 2012 London Olympics, West Ham successfully beat Spurs to the acquisition of the London Stadium in 2016, formerly called the Olympic Stadium.

It is yet to host an international game, so could Euro 2020 would be the perfect opportunity for the London Stadium’s first experience?

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Capacity: 62,203 – Last International fixture: N/A

Similar to the West Ham’s ground, Tottenham’s brand new stadium hasn’t hosted an international fixture.

The structure’s opening in 2019 called for claims that it was the best stadium in the world. And it’s gone down popular in our Euro 2020 stadium poll, which you can vote on HERE.

Emirates Stadium

Capacity: 62,203 – Last International fixture: Brazil 1-0 Uruguay – 16 November 2018

With a capacity of 60,704 it is the fourth-largest football stadium in England after Wembley Stadium, Old Trafford and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Emirates open in 2006 and has been described as “beautiful” and “intimidating” by architect Christopher Lee.

It’s hosted many a concert for bands like Muse, Coldplay, The Killers, Green Day and Bruce Springsteen. It’s also held 8 international fixtures, all of them with Brazil as the ‘home team’.

Boris Johnson said: “We are hosting the Euros. We are hosting the semis and the final.

“If there’s, you know, if they want any other matches that they want hosted, we’re certainly on for that but at the moment that’s where we are with UEFA.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will also outline plans to pump millions into funding the UK and Ireland’s joint-bid to host the 2030 World Cup in Wednesday’s Budget.

Johnson said: “We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it’s the right place.

“It’s the home of football, it’s the right time. It will be an absolutely wonderful thing for the country.”

“We will continue to undertake feasibility work to assess the viability of a bid before FIFA formally open the process in 2022. Staging a FIFA World Cup would provide an incredible opportunity to deliver tangible benefits for our nations.

“If a decision is made to bid for the event, we look forward to presenting our hosting proposals to FIFA and the wider global football community.”

Tweeting on Tuesday morning, Johnson added: “Let’s bring football home in 2030. I would love for the home of football to host the 2030 World Cup, and it would be a wonderful thing for the whole country to savour.

“We want to do much more to encourage sport post-pandemic and see a bonanza of football in the years ahead.”

“That would be an amazing experience for everyone,” Southgate told talkSPORT. “We have our group matches at Wembley anyway, we’re hugely looking forward to that and we’ve got our fingers crossed that we keep progressing as we are and that there could be some fans in the stadium. That would be the first step. Everything else is a bit up in the air.

“At the moment we’re being told the tournament will stay in its current format. You would imagine if there is an option for one country to host, then we will be well placed with a couple of other countries to do that.

“But as a team we’ve got to remember that just hosting is not a great guarantee of success. You don’t win just because you’re the hosts. We won’t win just because our matches are at Wembley. We have got to play well and be as prepared as we can possibly be.”

POLL VOTE: If England hosted the Euros, which 12 stadiums should be used?