February 2 – England’s League Cup final at Wembley between Manchester United and Newcastle on February 26 will feature safe standing areas, marking the first time in 35 years fans are allowed to stand at a domestic final.
The stadium, which seats 90,000 spectators, will have standing areas behind each goal, with 867 available to both clubs’ fans.
Grounds in England’s top divisions were converted to all-seater stadiums nearly 30 years ago after Liverpool supporters were crushed in over-crowded and fenced-in areas at the Hillsborough Stadium in 1989, which led to 97 deaths.
The decision to allow limited standing areas follows a trial where clubs including Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham offered safe standing in designated areas for home and away fans.
Standing areas in stadiums are commonplace in Germany’s Bundesliga and there are similar examples across the rest of Europe, the US and Australia.
The eye-catching League Cup final between two in-form sides will be Manchester United’s first domestic final appearance since 2018 and puts them one win away from ending their six-year wait for a trophy.
For a resurgent Newcastle, now backed by Saudi money, it will mark their first Wembley final since 1999 and a chance to win their first trophy since the old Inter Cities’ Fairs Cup way back in 1969.
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