Rostock disappointed: No women's European Championship 2029 in the Hanseatic city!

Rostock disappointed: No women's European Championship 2029 in the Hanseatic city!

The dream of a European Football Championship in Rostock in 2029 has now vanished into thin air. According to the current information from Northern Courier Rostock was not considered in the bid to host the UEFA Women’s EURO 2029. A clear announcement from the Presidium of the German Football Association (DFB): The city is not one of the selected venues.

The disappointed people of Rostock cannot look forward to a fan zone and the events associated with it. In addition to Rostock, Berlin and Gelsenkirchen were also removed from the selection process. This decision follows the exclusion list that was already made months ago, which included Hamburg, Bremen and Essen. Instead, the DFB representatives have decided on other cities: Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich and Wolfsburg are in the selection, which must be finalized by August 27, 2025. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf emphasized the positive selection of the final venues, which were based on the recommendations of a panel of experts.

Political reactions and insights

There is great disappointment about the decision in Rostock. Thoralf Sens, the parliamentary group leader of the SPD, made clear statements about the cancellation. The city decided in January to apply as a venue and to set up a fan zone, which indicates strong support among the population. Andreas Röhl, managing director of the city sports association, sees the loss as significant for the city and emphasizes the importance of major sporting events. Sports Senator Steffen Bockhahn also thanked everyone involved for their committed cooperation in the application.

Despite the bitter disappointment, there is hope for future major events in Rostock. Even if the 2029 Women's European Championship now has to take place without the Hanseatic city, the focus remains on the future. The top priority is the Olympic Games, which could take place in Germany in 2036, 2040 or 2044.

Application process and further perspectives

The decision on the UEFA Women’s EURO 2029 will be made by the UEFA Executive Committee in December 2025. Germany has hosted the European Women's Championships twice in the past and it is hoped that future bids will be more successful. In addition to Germany, Denmark and Sweden have also applied as a duo, while Poland, Portugal and Italy are entering the race as individual applicants.

How the situation will develop further remains to be seen. It remains exciting to see what the future holds for women's football in Germany and whether the DFB application will generally bear fruit for the selected cities. Further information about the Europe-wide hosting of the European Championship can also be found at kicker.