Rotterdam: In a lead to kick of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, the final draw is scheduled to take place on Tuesday November 8, at 17.30 Central European Time (CET) at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The tournament is scheduled to be be played from July 16 to August 6, 2017 across seven venues in the Netherlands.
In line with the demand of the high profile event, seeding for the finals draw have been confirmed with the hosts Netherlands placed at position 1 in group A. Other 15 competing teams are to be placed into four pots, based on each team’s position in the UEFA women’s national team rankings at the end of the qualifying group stage; in a four groups format, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the quarter-finals.
Pot 1: Germany (title-holders), France, England
Pot 2: Norway, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland
Pot 3: Italy, Iceland, Scotland, Denmark
Pot 4: Austria, Belgium, Russia, Portugal
The draw will be begin with the speech from the UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin, and the president of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), Michael van Praag, to be presented by Dutch sports journalist Diana Kuip and conducted by Dutch footballer Manon Melis, and Nadine Kessler, who was a part of 2013 UEFA Women’s EURO Title winners German team. Manon Melis is an all-time top scorer of the Dutch women’s national team.
Speaking about the draw, the UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, hinting at the legacy of this tournament, said, “Another important step in the development of women’s football will be taken next summer in the Netherlands. For the first time, 16 teams will contest the Women’s EURO trophy, giving the tournament an exciting new dimension. I would like to thank the Royal Netherlands Football Association, the KNVB, for their hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and cooperation in preparing the draw and the tournament. They have laid excellent foundations for a truly wonderful event, which will feature many of the best female players in Europe.”
Speaking about the importance of the event, Royal Netherlands Football Association President, Michael van Praag said,“It is an honour to welcome the delegations of the teams and the international press in our country for the draw. I’m also very pleased that UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin will be present. The draw is always a very special moment. Most of all, because you can feel the excitement of the tournament as it comes closer. We in the Netherlands we will do everything to make sure that UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 is a unique experience for the teams and fans.”
Earlier, in 2013, Germany won the title for the sixth consecutive version of the UEFA Women’s EURO Cup, and in recognition of this, the president of the German Football Association (DFB), Reinhard Grindel, will hand the UEFA European Women’s Championship trophy back to UEFA President on stage. The UEFA President will, handover the trophy, then, to the hosts for safekeeping until it is presented to the 2017 champions.