Euro 2025 ticket sales kick off in snowy Alps

Switzerland launched the ticket sales for the 2025 women's European football championships with a snowy kickabout Tuesday way up in the Alps on the country's iconic Jungfraujoch.

At 3,454 metres high on the saddle between the Jungfrau and the Monch mountains, a temporary pitch was laid out for the launch -- but the snow had to be brushed and shovelled off before the first potshots at goal could be taken.

A total of 720,000 tickets are available for Euro 2025, with prices starting at 25 Swiss francs ($26.75).

"We have very good stadiums and we are in the heart of Europe," Euro 2025 tournament director Doris Keller told AFP.

"We hope to get more tourists and foreigners to Switzerland to come to this beautiful country," adding it was beautiful "except maybe today!" as the icy wind blew snow in her eyes.

Keller said she hoped the tournament would boost the level of women's football in the Switzerland, currently ranked 25th in the world.

"We want to strengthen the league, the female players in Switzerland, so we have more a long-term plan as we are not a female football nation yet. But this will give definitely a boost," she said.

Swiss Football Association president Dominique Blanc added: "For the past three years, girls' football in Switzerland has grown three times faster than boys'. Our goal is to double the number of girls playing football in the next four years, and at the current rate, we think it's possible."

- 'Summer of joy' -

The 16-team Euro 2025 tournament will be held from July 2 to 27 next year. 

Nine teams have already qualified: hosts Switzerland, champions England, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

Twenty-eight teams are playing off for the final seven places, with the tournament draw to be held on December 16 in Lausanne.

Some 120,000 tickets will be reserved for fans of the 16 teams in the draw.

Matches will be staged in eight cities: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Sion, Thun and Zurich. 

The opening match and the final will be held at the 38,000-capacity St. Jakob-Park in Basel.

"Summer 2025 should be a summer of joy and further boost the boom in women's football," said Blanc.

"Individuals and families will have the chance to see the best players in Europe at very reasonable prices and thanks to combined tickets, to travel comfortably and cheaply by train from anywhere in Switzerland to the eight host cities."

Match tickets will be valid for any return rail journey to the venue on the day of the game.

A platform will be launched early next year so fans can resell tickets at face value through an official channel.

Meanwhile Euro 2025 organisers put out a call for 2,500 volunteers to welcome fans, guests and media in city centres, fan zones or at stadiums.

rjm/pb