Euro 2016

Although most European soccer fans are gearing up for the start of the World Cup in two weeks in South Africa, Friday afternoon will provide a small break in the waiting game and the first impressions of another tournament six years down the road.

The European Football Association (UEFA) will announce its decision Friday about the host country of the European Championship 2016. France, Italy, and Turkey are the three candidates up for nomination after Sweden and Norway pulled out of a joint bid in 2009.

Although the successor to 2012's joint hosts Poland and Ukraine is still up in the air, one thing is certain about the 2016 tournament: it will be a little easier for teams to get in. Starting in 2016, 24 teams will enter the group stage as opposed to the current 16.

The teams will be divided into six groups of four, with the top two in each group advancing to the knock-out round. The four best teams placing third in their groups will also advance. The duration of the tournament will also be extended from three to four weeks.

The host country is given an automatic spot in the Euro 2016, while the 23 remaining spots will be decided after several qualification rounds from August 2014 to November 2015.

Turkey

At the 2008 Euro hosted by Switzerland and Austria, Turkey almost stole the show by giving Germany a run for their money in the semi-final. They lost a 3-2 thriller, but it was their best European Championship finish ever.

As a potential host nation for the Euro 2016, Turkey is planning to invest 920 million euros ($1.1 billion) in new stadiums. The Turkish government would then foot the bill. New stadiums would be built in Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Konya, Eskisehir, and Antalya, with two additional stadiums in Istanbul. The opening match and the final would be played in the renovated Atatuerk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, which would provide seating for 83,000 fans.

Turkey has never hosted the Euro but is applying as a candidate for the third time. A joint bid with Greece for Euro 2008 ended up being awarded to Switzerland and Austria, and Poland and Ukraine are hosting in 2012.

Italy

The reigning World Cup title holders hope to bring the European Championships back to Italy for the first time since 1980. In 2008, two years after winning the World Cup, Italy was bounced from the Euro by eventual-champs Spain in the first stage of the knock-out round.

The Italian government is hoping for help from private investors to invest around 700 million euros into Euro 2016. Half that money would go toward renovations of old stadiums, while 335 million euros would be for new stadiums in Turin, Cagliari and Palermo.

In total, twelve cities in Italy are candidates for hosting matches, but many possess stadiums that don't currently meet the UEFA standards. Among other shortcomings, some stadiums don't possess large pavilions around the arena for activities outside the soccer match.

Since hosting the World Cup in 1990, Italy has not done much to modernize its stadiums. Sixteen of the 20 stadiums that host teams in Italy's top-flight league are, on average, 67 years old. At the moment, only the arenas in Milan, Rome and Turin meet international standards.

In addition to hosting the European Championships in 1980, Italy won the tournament as hosts in 1968.

France

France had a disappointing Euro 2008 to follow up their second place World Cup finish in 2006. They only managed one point in the round-robin stage and failed to advance to the knock-out round, finishing last in their group.

The French government is leading the way for the country's bid, pledging 100 million euros toward new stadiums and stadium renovation.

Topping the list of stadiums up for renovation are the arenas used in the 1998 World Cup, which France won as host. New stadiums in Lyon, Lille, and Strasbourg are also planned. Of France's current stadiums, the Stade de France arena in Paris, with its capacity of 80,000, is the only stadium that would already meet Euro criteria.

Nice, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Lille, Lens, Strasbourg, Nancy and Paris are among the potential cities to host matches.

France was previously host of the 1960 and 1984 European Championships.

Author: Arnulf Boettcher (mz)
Editor: Rob Turner