Wembley Stadium is undergoing a major redevelopment that will see 10,000 new safe standing places installed in its upper tier, directly responding to persistent calls from England supporters. The Football Association has confirmed the work is now underway, with the initial phase set for completion by 15 March 2026, in time for this season's Carabao Cup Final.
Responding to Fan Demand
The decision marks a significant shift in stadium policy, driven by audible fan frustration during matches. For years, announcements urging fans to sit down at the national stadium were met with discontent. Following a successful initial trial in 2023, which introduced 867 standing spots per club for the Carabao Cup Final, supporter groups continued to lobby for more options.
Their pleas were finally answered in the autumn of 2025 when the FA agreed to a substantial expansion. The plans were subsequently put to Brent Council, the local safety authority, and the Government’s Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA), receiving full approval in November 2025.
The Scale of the Transformation
The installation involves converting existing seats on Level Five into licensed 'railed seating' areas. The work is being carried out in stages, with around 5,000 seats already installed behind each goal. Once the full project is complete, approximately 13% of Wembley's 90,000 capacity will be dedicated to safe standing, making it the largest such area in English football.
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson stated: "We have listened to supporters’ calls for more options about how they choose to watch a football match and are delighted to bring licensed standing areas into a secure environment that places supporter safety at its heart."
Historic Fixtures to Showcase Changes
The timing means the 2026 Carabao Cup Final on 15 March will be the first major event where one in every eight fans can legally stand. Furthermore, England's upcoming World Cup warm-up fixtures at Wembley will be affected. The match against Uruguay in March is set to witness the largest number of fans standing at a Three Lions home game in over three decades, a scene not seen since the all-seater mandate was introduced following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
This historic policy change was made possible by a 2022 revision of all-seater stadium legislation, which itself was a result of years of campaigning by fan groups. The move represents a modern balance between fan culture, choice, and stringent safety standards, overseen by the SGSA.
