Spanish Stand Against the Push: UEFA Keeps Squad Caps as English Clubs Face Setback
24 March 2026
What blocked the decision?
UEFA rejected English clubs' requests to increase the Champions League squad limit to 28 players for the coming season, after opposition led by Spanish clubs.
The proposal was among issues discussed at UEFA's Club Competitions Committee meeting last month, but it was not on the agenda for the upcoming UEFA Executive Committee meeting scheduled before the Europa League final in Istanbul on May 20.
The rules for next season's Champions League were approved by the competitions committee without changing the long-standing 25-player cap, though the topic could be revisited before 2027-2028, the first cycle of UEFA's four-year broadcasting rights.
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The current squad rules were adopted about 20 years ago, and had urged expansion to reflect the competition's growth and to protect players from injuries and fatigue.
But the competitions committee failed to reach consensus, with Spanish representatives Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, and Real Sociedad opposing the proposal specifically due to fears English clubs could use their financial power to strengthen their squads further.
There is also a belief in Europe that English clubs enjoy a league-stage advantage, as a policy prevents them from facing each other in the group stage, giving them an easier route to the knockout rounds.
This season all six English clubs reached the Round of 16, with Arsenal and Liverpool the only ones to reach the quarterfinals.
After applying the expanded league stage (36 teams) last season, all clubs in the Champions League now play at least two extra matches, while teams finishing outside the top eight play two extra matches in January to determine qualification to the Round of 16.
In January, the former Tottenham coach Thomas Frank raised the issue, arguing he was unhappy about being forced to omit a player from his squad for the final group-stage match against Eintracht Frankfurt due to Dominic Solanke's return from injury.
