Rostock loses the Women's European Championship 2029: Disappointment at the DFB!

Rostock loses the Women's European Championship 2029: Disappointment at the DFB!

Rostock, Deutschland - Today Rostock had to swallow a bitter pill: The Baltic Sea Stadium will not be the venue for the European Football Championship 2029. The German Football Association (DFB) has deleted the Hanseatic city together with Berlin and Gelsenkirchen from the list of venues. This decision caused disappointment, both those responsible and the fans. Rostock's sports senator, Steffen Bockhahn, described the decision as "extremely unfortunate" and called for a closer explanation of the DFB.

The cancellation for the city is particularly painful, since the Baltic Sea Stadium has already been hosting for exciting international women's football games in the past. The German footballers last competed there in December 2023 and April 2024 and were able to clearly win both games against Denmark and Poland, who were sold out. The last victory in the East German stadium was a 4-1 against Poland-the third victory in the third game of the European Championship qualification. Such a backdrop is now denied the fans in Rostock, while an important game for German women is coming up, in which only one victory ensures the chance of participating in the Olympics.

the remaining venues

The decision of the DFB now remain eight cities in the race for the host of the Women's European Championships 2029. These are Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/Main, Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich and Wolfsburg. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf expressed a positive statement about the remaining venues and explained that the decision was based on the recommendations of an expert committee. The final documents for the UEFA must be submitted by August 27, 2025, and the EM is finally awarded at the end of 2025 by the UEFA Executive Committee.

The excitement for the coming tournaments does not tear off: While Germany was hosting the women's European Championship 1989 and 2001 earlier, other countries are now also in the queue, including Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Portugal and Italy, which have also submitted applications. The European Championship of women has a long and impressive story that started in 1984. From 2025 the tournament will be played in a new qualification format in the league system analogously to the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

The history of the women's European Championship

The European UEFA soccer championship of women has developed strongly over the years. Originally announced for 1969, the first official championship was only held between 1982 and 1984. To date, 19 different countries have participated in the European Championships, and some nations such as England and Germany have made a name for themselves. England is the reigning European champion after the team won in 2022 in the final game against Germany.

For the fans in Rostock, it is to be hoped that future tournaments can put the city back on the football map. The passion for women's football is strong, and maybe a future application ensures that the ball will soon roll again in the Baltic Sea Stadium.