The UEFA Women’s U17 Championship had a symbolic kick-off event
This May, Estonia will host the final tournament of the UEFA Women’s U17 Championship in three cities. The opening event of the tournament took place on Friday, February 3.
According to Juss Tamming, director of the UEFA Women’s U17 Championship final tournament, the organization of the big event is in full swing. “The preparation has been going on for more than a year and a half. There are almost three months left until the start of the tournament, and there is still a lot of work to be done, but we are ready for it,” said Tamming.
The general secretary of the Estonian Football Association and the chairwoman of UEFA women’s football committee, Anne Rei, confirmed that hosting the final tournament is an important step for Estonia. “We have invested a lot in the legacy of the final tournament, so that the big event leaves a positive mark on our women’s and girls’ football, as well as on tourism and the economy,” said Rei.
The organizers, the head coach of the team preparing for the final tournament, Aleksandra Ševoldajeva, Deputy Mayor of Tallinn Vadim Belobrovtsev, tournament ambassadors Mari-Liis Lillemäe and Lisette Tammik and others spoke at the opening event on February 3 at A. Le Coq Arena.
This year, the UEFA Women’s U17 Championship will take place from May 14 to 26. The national teams of eight different European countries will participate in the final tournament. As the organizer of the tournament, Estonia has already secured its place, the remaining seven teams qualify for the final tournament through Round 2 in spring. The draw for the two groups will take place on April 13 at Lilleküla Stadium.
Group matches are divided between two centers and three Estonian cities. Group A will play matches at Lilleküla Stadium and Kadrioru Stadium in Tallinn, and in group B, matches will be played at Tartu Tamme Stadium and Võru Stadium in Southern Estonia. Estonia is placed in group A and will play at Lilleküla stadium on May 14 and 20 and at Kadrioru Stadium on May 17.
In the past, major competitions have been held in Estonia: the final tournament of the UEFA Under-19 Championship (2012), Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal (2015) and the UEFA Super Cup final (2018). In 2020, the final tournament of the UEFA Under-17 Championship was supposed to take place in Estonia, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: Katariina Peetson/Jalgpall.ee