Does Wembley Stadium roof close, and does it cover the pitch? (2024)

IT'S known as the Home of Football and can boast of being the largest fully covered stadium in the world.

But this week it will play host to Anthony Joshua's title defence against Alexander Povetkin and the recent downturn in UK weather could see rain pour on Saturday.

Obviously, the ground has a roof - but it is different to the sliding one used at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

That can be closed completely to create an indoor arena if the South Wales weather gets too bad.

Does the Wembley roof close and does it cover the pitch?

THE roof at Wembley is partially-retractable and can be moved - but doesn't cover the pitch.

It sits 52 metres above the playing surface and can move forwards and backwards, enough to cover the seating behind each goal.

The design team wanted maximum sunlight to enter the ground and the roof is never adjusted whilst spectators are in the stadium.

If you've got a seat in Level 1 - which is the lower tier - you're likely to get wet if it rains on an angle.

Initially, the plans were that the roof would take just 15 minutes to close, allowing for quick adjustments for the weather.

But this was scrapped during construction and it was revealed that the roof in-fact takes a whole HOUR to move fully either way.

Fans barraged the Wembley Twitter account during Tottenham's FA Cup fixture against Rochdale in February, asking them to close the roof.

But got this response: "For all those asking us to close the roof, our roof does not close so unless you've got a big piece of tarpaulin you can lend us we cannot stop it from happening".