Good news for Gareth Southgate! UEFA confirm expansion of Euro 2024 squads to 26 players after England manager's complaints

UEFA confirmed on Friday that the original quota for Euro 2024 squads has been expanded from 23 players to 26. Both the 2022 World Cup and the delayed Euro 2020 tournament allowed teams to pick up to 26 players, as a result of potential COVID infections, but after managerial complaints, the governing body have expanded the numbers once again.

England boss Gareth Southgate acknowledged that he had held discussions over potentially upping the size of squads, while Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman felt it would allow teams to better absorb the potential impact of injuries at the competition.

Squads for Euro 2024 must be submitted to UEFA by June 7, and teams still have the option of selecting 23 players should they wish, although it is difficult to imagine any teams doing so. It opens the door for potential surprise picks; England, for example, could now select Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze or Ajax's Jordan Henderson.

Seasons across Europe must finish before the tournament begins. The competition will kick off on June 14, when Germany play Scotland.