Countries Bidding For Euro2016
France, Italy, Turkey, Norway/Sweden Hoping To Host Euro2016
May 7, 2009
Every four years Euro football fans get excited about the European Championships. In 2016, spectators will converge on one of the following bidding countries: France, Italy, Turkey and Norway/Sweden.
24 Teams, 12 Stadiums
Europe's football ruling body UEFA decided to increase the number of teams from 16 to 24 countries. The move also means that hosting nations would need to have 12 stadiums. Two of the arenas must have a capacity of at least 50,000; three with at least 40,000 and three more with at least 30,000.
France Is Favorite
Most insiders consider France as the favorite to follow up Euro2012 hosts Poland/Ukraine. The 1998 World Cup hosts' problem, however, is that they don't have enough modern stadiums to meet the UEFA demands. But the state is committed to spending 100 million euros to modernize the aging facilities. France also rescinded its bid to host the 2011 Women's World Cup in favor of Germany for the support of the Germans for 2016.
Italy Also Has Modernizing To Do
Italy initially considered a joint bid with France before filing an individual offer. The Italians, who lost out on their bid for the Euro2012, also have to modernize some of their older stadiums and new arenas will be built in Turin and Milan.
Turkey's Third Bid
Turkey are entering their third bid for the European Championship following an unsuccessful joint bid with Greece in 2008 and a sole bid in 2012. New stadiums are being built throughout the country and Turkey already has six stadiums which meet UEFA criteria including the Atatürk Olympic Stadium and the Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium.
New Stadiums Needed In Norway
The fourth bid has been entered by the Scandinavian duo of Norway and Sweden. Norway would need a number of new stadiums for 2016. The Euro1992 host Sweden, meanwhile, already has two four-star arenas in Rasunda stadium in Solna and the Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg.
France, Italy, Sweden Experienced As Euro Hosts
France has already hosted two European Championships. In the first Euro competition in 1960 in France, the Soviet Union beat Yugoslavia 2-1 in Paris. And then in 1984, the hosts Equipe Tricolore beat Spain 2-0 to capture the Euro crown. Italy hosted the European Championship in 1968 (beating Yugoslavia in the final) and 1980 (Germany beating Belgium in the final). And Sweden hosted the 1992 tournament where outsiders Denmark beat Germany 2-0 in the championship game. Turkey and Norway have never hosted a Euro.
Bids May Still Come
Countries still have until February 15, 2010 to submit bids to UEFA, and other countries are considering entering a bid. Russia and Greece have been rumored to be interested in bidding individually for Euro2016 as well as two joint bids coming from Wales/Scotland and Hungary/Romania.
Winner Decided On May 27, 2010
UEFA will evaluate the final bids in March 2010 and visit the sites. And then the UEFA executive commission will announce the host nation of the Euro2016 on May 27, 2010.
