Portugal to Host Women’s U-19 Euro for the First Time in 2028, Boosting Local Football

A landmark has been set for Portuguese sport: in just under four years the country will be centre stage for the 25th UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship. Hosting rights, confirmed by UEFA’s Executive Committee in Nyon, arrive at a time when the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is already ploughing record investment into the women’s game. For residents, that means extra jobs, upgraded pitches from Minho to the Algarve and – perhaps most importantly – a fresh generation of girls who will grow up seeing elite football played on their doorstep.

What’s in it for Portugal?

• First-ever women’s U-19 Euro on national soil

• Part of a €22 M package the FPF has earmarked for women’s football in 2025/2026

• Tourism windfall expected thanks to visiting squads, families and fans

• Opportunity to cement Portugal’s place inside the top-20 of the women’s world ranking

• Legacy projects set to refurbish community grounds and training centres

How Lisbon won the vote

While Spain and Belgium had sounded out UEFA, only Portugal submitted the full technical dossier before the October deadline. Inspectors praised the country’s compact geography – no venue sits more than a 3-hour drive from any other – and the existing stadium network that already meets broadcast and VAR standards. The final nod came on 3 December during UEFA’s winter meeting.

Possible host cities – and what still needs work

The FPF has not yet nailed down its map, but sources inside the federation confirm that a north-south spine is being studied:

• Porto / Vila Nova de Gaia – Dragão’s smaller neighbour, Estádio Jorge Sampaio, would suit crowds of 6-10 k

• Aveiro or Coimbra – centrally located, good rail connections, recent turf upgrades

• Leiria – renovation funds available under the government’s 2030 sports plan

• Algarve Stadium – tested by women’s tournaments every spring

Many venues only require modest tweaks: extra dressing rooms for multiple kick-offs per day, additional media tribunes and stronger Wi-Fi for live data feeds. The FPF insists that no new arena will be built from scratch, keeping costs focused on community assets.

Counting the euros and cents

Economists at Nova SBE expect between €28 M and €35 M in direct spending during the fortnight-long finals: hotels, restaurants, shuttle services and merchandising. Temporary employment could top 2 500 positions, spanning security, event management and volunteer coordination. Municipal leaders also see a branding bonus – international TV images can lift a mid-sized city’s profile for future tourism.

Beyond the balance sheet: social goals

Portugal’s women’s game has ballooned from 8 000 to nearly 20 000 registered players in seven seasons. By bringing the continent’s best teenagers to town, the FPF hopes to:

Turbo-charge grassroots sign-ups in schools and local clubs.

Put more female coaches through UEFA B and A licences – courses will be subsidised during the build-up.

Offer mentoring clinics where national-team players share career advice with under-15 squads.

Timeline to kick-off

• 2026 – Stadium audits and city allocations completed• 2027 – Test events held with domestic youth finals• Early 2028 – Final draw and ticket sales launch, prices expected to start at €5• July 2028 – 16 nations, 31 matches, 15 action-packed days

Part of a wider UEFA calendar

The Nyon meeting also handed out future youth tournaments:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina 2026 – Women’s U-19

• Hungary 2027 – Women’s U-19

• Portugal 2028 – Women’s U-19

• Italy 2029 – Women’s U-19

These allocations ensure every southern European nation gets a turn, aligning with UEFA’s diversity mandate.

Quick takeaways for residents

• Expect summer 2028 to feel like a festival of football – and yes, traffic around stadium hubs will be busier.• Local businesses should register with the FPF’s supplier portal by next autumn to bid for contracts.• Parents of budding footballers can look out for the “Talento de Elite” scouting caravans visiting every district starting March.

The whistle may not blow until 2028, but preparation is already reshaping pitches, budgets and ambitions across the country. For many Portuguese, the real victory could arrive long before the trophy is lifted – in the form of packed municipal stands and the sound of girls dreaming a little bigger about the beautiful game.