How Wembley Stadium will change for Carabao Cup Final and EFL Championship Play-Off Final | OneFootball

Wembley Stadium is set to have nearly 10,000 standing places ready in time for this season's showpiece events, including the Carabao Cup final

Wembley spectators are set to enjoy a different experience at showpiece events such as the Carabao Cup final and Championship play-off final this term, thanks to the Football Association's latest plans.

This season's Carabao Cup final is set to take place at the national stadium in North London on Sunday, 22 March, and the finalists will be decided once the last-four second legs are played out next month.

Arsenal currently hold a 3-2 advantage over Chelsea, while Manchester City are in the driving seat over reigning champions Newcastle United, having enjoyed a 2-0 win at St James's Park on 13 January.

Beyond the Carabao Cup final, Wembley is set to host England's international friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March, as well as the Championship, League One, and League Two play-off finals.

FA set to install new standing places at Wembley Stadium

Wembley events such as England internationals, the FA Cup final, the Carabao Cup final, and the respective play-off finals are some of the most iconic fixtures in the annual footballing calendar.

The national stadium was also utilised for the 2024 UEFA Champions League final played out between eventual winners Real Madrid and German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Meanwhile, as reported by The Sun, the FA have begun installing 10,000 standing places in Wembley's upper tier, which would make it the largest standing area in British football.

As a result of the significant change, one in eight fans attending events such as England's upcoming fixtures will be able to stand throughout the duration of the game.

The national stadium has already witnessed the installation of safe standing, with 867 supporters enjoying those facilities in the 2023 Carabao Cup final played out between Newcastle and Manchester United, with the Red Devils winning 2-0 thanks to first-half strikes from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.

Just under 5,000 standing places behind both goals at Wembley will be constructed in time for March's domestic cup final, which will see one of Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, or Man City win the first major trophy of the season.

EFL supporters will likely be pleased by Wembley changes

Alongside events such as the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup final, some of the most meaningful fixtures in the English game are the Championship, League One, and League Two play-off finals.

The second-tier play-off final has witnessed some particularly iconic moments, such as Luton Town's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Mark Robins' Coventry City in 2023.

Luton defied expectations by clinching promotion to the Premier League, having played in the non-league as recently as 2014.

Meanwhile, supporters of all 72 Championship, League One, and League Two clubs are accustomed to the presence of standing areas at football stadiums up and down the country.

Therefore, fans of EFL clubs are likely to welcome the news of a heavily increased standing area at Wembley, which will enhance the matchday atmosphere in the eyes of many.

From Sunderland's dramatic late winner in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United last season to Ben Watson's heroic header against Manchester City to win the FA Cup for Wigan Athletic in 2013, the national stadium is set to witness more historic events, but in front of more standing spectators.