UEFA European Youth Championships bid

Scotland will bid to host one of the UEFA Women’s European Championships in 2019, Minister for Public Health and Sport Aileen Campbell has announced.

Ms Campbell confirmed the bid for the under-17 and under-19 championships at parliament as she closed a debate on Scotland as the perfect stage for events.

The bids will be formally submitted by the Scottish Football Association next week. If successful it would be the first time Scotland has hosted an international youth football final tournament since the boys’ under-16s world championships in 1998.

The four proposed stadia are St Mirren Park in Paisley, McDiarmid Park in Perth, the Tony Macaroni Arena in Livingston and East End Park in Dunfermline.

The Scottish Government is fully supportive of the bids with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Patron of the Women’s National Team, having written a letter of support. UEFA is expected to make a decision on the successful hosts for these two events in December.

Ms Campbell said:

“Coming off the back of Scotland’s Women qualifying for the senior European Championships this caps off an exciting week for women’s sport. It would be tremendous if we could secure one of these championships, which would help to further promote the women’s game in Scotland.

“This bid highlights our commitment to sporting equality and to bringing much-needed recognition to women’s sport, especially as it would be in the same year as we host golf’s Solheim Cup.

“Women’s football is growing in popularity in Scotland and I’m confident that we will be able to put together a strong bid to host these tournaments.

“It will also help build momentum towards Glasgow hosting both Group and ‎Round 16 matches as part of the 60th anniversary edition of the men’s UEFA European Football Championships – UEFA EURO 2020™.”

Background:

Scotland will enter a bid for both tournaments but, if successful, will only host one.