Women’s Euro legacy turns record crowds into lasting growth

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 delivered a CHF205m economic impact for Switzerland and accelerated commercial and participation growth across European women’s football.UEFA’s post-tournament impact report found that the competition attracted 657,291 spectators, up 14% from 2022, despite generally smaller stadiums than the previous edition.UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said: “The legacy of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 is not a single achievement, fixed in time. It is something alive and tangible with every girl who joins a club, every coach who opens a new door, every referee who steps onto a pitch, and every fan who returns for more.“Long after the final whistle, the tournament continues to echo, in communities, in clubs and in the future of the women’s game.”Twenty-nine of the 31 matches sold out, with average attendance reaching a tournament record of 21,203.The competition also generated a cumulative global audience of more than 500m, making it the most-watched Women’s Euro to date.Commercial performance rose alongside audience growth. A record 21 tournament partners helped increase sponsorship revenue by 150% compared with 2022.Visitor spending across the eight host cities reached CHF71m, with more than 230,000 tickets sold to supporters from 167 countries.The event supported almost 2,300 full-time equivalent jobs across Switzerland, including nearly 1,800 in the host cities.UEFA director of women’s football Nadine Kessler said: “The Women’s Euro is our north star. It was the launchpad for our Unstoppable strategy and our €1bn commitment to leave a lasting mark.“Wherever we build a stage for women’s football, people will come. This is a Euro that will carry us for a long time.”The effect continued after the tournament. Attendance in the Swiss Women’s Super League rose 50% during the 2025-26 season, while eight of its 10 clubs reported increased sponsorship interest.Across UEFA’s 55 member associations, 92% reported a positive impact on women’s and girls’ football, rising to all 16 participating countries.Swiss female participation increased from 39,853 registered players in 2023 to 48,098, alongside growth in coaches and referees.The report gives UEFA a stronger commercial and public-interest case ahead of Women’s Euro 2029 in Germany, showing that tournament investment can generate value beyond rights, tickets and sponsorship during the event itself.