From the last tickets to the favorites: everything about the Women's European Football Championship in Switzerland

Are there still tickets available?

A few are available for certain group stage matches. Returned tickets for particularly popular matches also go on sale again every day at 11 a.m. via UEFA's resale platform . There are also still tickets available for the knockout phase, once the respective teams have been determined.

Where is the game played?

The preliminary round matches will take place in eight cities, ranked by stadium capacity: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Thun, and Sion. From the knockout round onwards, only the four largest stadiums will be used. The opening match and the final will take place in Basel.

How does the tournament mode work?

The sixteen teams are divided into four groups of four and play three preliminary round matches each. The top two teams advance to the quarterfinals. There is no qualifier.

When and where can I watch the games?

In the first two rounds, one match will kick off each day at 6 p.m. and one at 9 p.m., with the third match of the group stage and the quarter-finals and semi-finals kicking off at 9 p.m. The final is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 27. SRF will broadcast all matches live; in Germany, ARD and ZDF will share coverage.

Who are the home team’s opponents?

The Swiss will face Norway (July 2 in Basel), Iceland (July 6 in Bern) and Finland (July 10 in Geneva). This is a manageable task for them because the tournament favorites are in different groups. In the world rankings, Iceland is number 14, Norway 16, Switzerland is number 23 and Finland 26. But it will not be easy. In this year's Nations League campaign, the Swiss have not won against either Norway or Iceland . And they have never made it past the group stage in either of their previous European Championship appearances. If they make it this time, they will probably face Spain or Italy in the quarter-finals.

Who are the favorites?

Spain is the current world champion; England won the European Championship on home soil three years ago and reached the World Cup final. These two nations are also the top nations at this year's European Championship. Record winner Germany is a mixed bag: At the 2022 European Championship, they reached the final somewhat surprisingly, were eliminated in the group stage at the 2023 World Cup, and won bronze at the 2024 Olympics. France is in strong form and is aiming for its first women's title. Sweden is also always a force to be reckoned with at a tournament.

What's going on in Zurich?

Spectators at Letzigrund will see three high-profile group stage matches: France vs. England, England vs. the Netherlands, and Sweden vs. Germany. A quarterfinal and a semifinal will also take place in Zurich; the latter would be the only chance for a Swiss match to be held at Letzigrund. Europaallee will be transformed into the "Zurich Fan Zone," with public viewings accommodating up to 2,000 people at each match. There will also be sports for the whole family, concerts, and an accompanying cultural program. On the five match days in Zurich, fan marches will lead from Lagerstrasse to Letzigrund, restricting traffic in this area.

How much prize money is there?

UEFA will distribute €41 million, compared to €16 million in 2022. The starting bonus is €1.8 million per team. A draw earns €50,000, and a group-stage win earns €100,000. Quarterfinalists will receive €550,000, semifinalists €700,000, the runner-up €850,000, and the European champions €1.75 million. The maximum amount for the tournament winner is €5.1 million.

What records will the European Championship bring to Switzerland?

The one with the most spectators in the stadiums. In 2017, 240,000 attended in the Netherlands, 575,000 in England in 2022, and now it will be over 600,000. With 675,000 tickets sold, the European Championship finals would be sold out for the first time. The analysis of the TV audience is fascinating. In previous women's tournaments, there has been a sharp increase: in 2022, 365 million people watched worldwide, compared to 178 million in 2017 and just 116 million in 2013. The 2022 final between England and Germany was watched by 18 million people on German television alone; no other broadcast in the neighboring country enjoyed more popularity that year.

Who sings the national anthem?

The official opening match between Switzerland and Norway on July 2 at St. Jakob-Park at 9 p.m. is not the first match of the tournament. Switzerland's group opponents, Iceland and Finland, will meet at 6 p.m. At the opening ceremony in Basel, pop singer Beatrice Egli will sing the Swiss national anthem. A pop singer, Sarah-Jane, also performed the part at the opening of the 2008 Men's European Championship.

Who has the potential to become the star of the tournament?

First and foremost are the names from the top teams: the Spaniards Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, the French Marie-Antoinette Katoto, and the Englishwoman Alessia Russo. Then there are the best from the second-tier teams, such as the Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen, the Dutch Vivianne Miedema, and the Danish Pernille Harder.