The home of Gareth Taylor‘s City team and our youth sides has been chosen as one of the host venues for the eagerly-awaited tournament, as England stages the competition for the first time since 2005.
Thursday’s draw revealed which fixtures will take place at the Academy Stadium, which entertained the Lionesses in their 2019 Women’s World Cup warm-up clash with Canada.
UEFA WOMEN’S EUROS 2022 | TICKET BALLOT
Belgium v Iceland, Italy v Iceland and Italy v Belgium in Group D will be contested at the home of the Women’s FA Cup holders with the games scheduled for Sunday 10 July, Thursday 14 July and Monday 18 July 2022 respectively.
The tournament will run from 6 to 31 July with 31 matches across England with 16 teams participating, separated into four groups of four teams.
The draw took place in Manchester with City defender Ruben Dias in attendance to help draw the groups, as special guests from the worlds of sport and music came together to celebrate the pinnacle of the European women’s game and enjoy live performances from Ellie Goulding and Ella Henderson.
The Lionesses, as hosts, were automatically drawn in Group A.
GROUPS
GROUP A
England
Norway
Austria
Northern Ireland
GROUP B
Germany
Spain
Denmark
Finland
GROUP C
Netherlands
Sweden
Switzerland
Russia
GROUP D
France
Italy
Belgium
Iceland
EURO 2022’s legacy programme will illustrate how a record-breaking tournament has the power to inspire the next generation of players and fans.
It is hoped the tournament will inspire action to double the number of female-friendly clubs in Manchester and Trafford and upskill 400 female activators to further support the game off the pitch.
City and England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, who also stands as Non-Executive Director for Women & Girls’ Football in Manchester, spoke of her pride as the country bid to build a legacy for the next generation.
“Since 2005, the game has come a long way,” she said. “We want to prove how much it’s developed in that time.
“It’s a really exciting moment for everyone and a platform for the opportunity for change, and to see the progress. That’s what we’re looking forward to the most.
“We’re trying to welcome as many under-represented groups into football as possible. For me personally, football will be that vehicle for social change and mobility.
“We want to get football into all primary schools in Manchester and make sure every girl who wants to play has the opportunity to do so.”
Gavin Makel, City’s Managing Director of Women’s Football, commented: “Here at Manchester City, we’re honoured to be a part of the upcoming 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championships.
“It is an incredibly exciting period for women’s football right now and to be able to support a key piece of history in the form of a home tournament is something we are extremely proud of. Hopefully there will be a number of our own players figuring throughout the competition for their respective countries.
“One of the key aims of this tournament is to build a legacy, which is something we here Manchester City are deeply passionate about.
“By hosting three group-stage games at our fantastic stadium, we also hope to help give fans in the Greater Manchester area and beyond the opportunity to watch a major tournament on their doorstep, alongside capturing the attention of newcomers to the women’s game.”
The ticket ballot for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 is now open and will run until 19:00 CET on Tuesday 16 November.
UEFA WOMEN’S EUROS 2022 | TICKET BALLOT
