Bidding process for UEFA EURO 2020 decided

The UEFA Executive Committee completed its two-day meeting in Istanbul today and decided on the bidding process for UEFA EURO 2020.

An invitation will be sent out to all 53 UEFA member associations, outlining minimum criteria in terms of number and capacity of stadiums, and the national associations will have until 15 May to declare their interest in hosting the 24-team final tournament.

If only one expression of interest is received, UEFA would then proceed with collecting all necessary guarantees with the aim of confirming the hosts.

Should more associations declare their interest, UEFA would then launch an 18-month bidding process allowing for candidates to elaborate the bid dossiers. A detailed timeline and bidding process would be developed, and a decision on the hosts would be scheduled for the end of 2013/beginning of 2014.

The UEFA Executive Committee rejected the request of Welsh clubs playing in the English leagues to be able to qualify for the UEFA Europa League via the Welsh Cup.

The UEFA Executive Committee approved the running of a transnational women's competition involving top teams from Belgium and the Netherlands on a trial basis for a three-year period.

The request for membership by Gibraltar was discussed, and a road map which includes financial and educational support from UEFA was agreed. This road map will run until the Ordinary UEFA Congress in 2013, when member associations will vote on the request for admission.

Several other matters were on the agenda and the UEFA Executive Committee notably approved the following regulations:

• UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for the 2012–15 cycle
• UEFA Futsal Cup 2012/13
• UEFA Women's Champions League 2012/13
• Anti-Doping Regulations, 2012 edition

Finally, Kazakhstan and Montenegro were admitted to the UEFA Referee Convention.

Further decisions taken by the UEFA Executive Committee were announced yesterday, including the appointment of the hosts for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League finals in 2014.