UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, has given member associations until September 24 to declare interest in hosting the Women’s European Championship national team tournament in 2029.
The Swiss-based body unveiled the bidding requirements and dates for the 2029 tournament (which will feature 16 teams) today, with the September deadline to be followed (on October 1) by the specific requirements being sent out to all interested bidders.
The submission by all parties of a preliminary bid dossier has a deadline of March 12, 2025, with the final bid dossier required by August 26.
The governing body has said it will make its appointment of the host or hosts of the 2029 women’s tournament next December.
Joint bidders are permitted, but UEFA has stipulated that it would need to be “geographically compact."
In terms of requirements, the governing body requires that interested parties provide eight host stadiums, all of which must have a gross seating capacity of 20,000 and of which one must have a capacity of at least 50,000.
The last Women’s Euro, held in 2021 (with the coronavirus pandemic having caused a 12-month postponement from its original slot), took place in England, and was won by the hosts.
The next edition of the tournament will be held next June and July across Switzerland, who was voted in as the host nation last April.
Switzerland saw off competition from a joint Nordic proposal, and a bid from Poland.
It is anticipated that, following their failure to secure Euro 2025 hosting rights, the Nordic countries interested in that tournament (primarily Denmark and Sweden) will try again for the 2029 edition.
The men’s Euro in 2028, meanwhile, will be held across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), and Ireland.