March 9 – Germany and Turkey will go head-to-head for the right to host the 2024 European Championship finals, UEFA have announced. The two federations were the only ones to submit a declaration of interest before the March 3 deadline after Scandinavian countries could not put together a credible bid.
“The respective national associations were both present at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon to make their declarations official,” UEFA said of the Germans and Turks.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland had explored a joint bid but did not proceed.
The potential hosts will now have to produce a full bid dossier by April next year with UEFA choosing the winner the following September.
Turkey has never hosted a major finals before having tried and failed three times in bids for hosting rights.
“It’s clear that there will be two strong bids for UEFA’s showcase national team competition, and it will be a tough decision to make,” said UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis. “UEFA is committed to a transparent bidding process.”
Germany federation (DFB) president Reinhard Grindel said that “with our vast experience, our current stadium infrastructure and the basic conditions in Germany, we can stage an economic, first-class tournament.”
His opposite number Yildirim Demiroren was hoping it would be fourth time lucky for his country which controversially lost out to France by a single vote for Euro 2016.
“Over the last few years, around 32 new stadiums have been built or are currently being constructed around the country,” he said.
“With this level of investment, Turkey is proving that it is one of the world’s leaders in its commitment to football infrastructure.”
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