AESSEAL New York Stadium to stage France, Italy and Iceland at Women's Euros 2022

ROTHERHAM will be front and centre of the biggest women’s European sport event in history after being hand-picked as one of ten host venues for the hotly-anticipated UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.

And it has been revealed that AESSEAL New York Stadium will host group matches involving France, Italy and Iceland when the tournament gets underway next summer.

Rotherham’s schedule, revealed at today’s draw, is France v Italy (Sunday July 10), Italy v Iceland (Thursday July 14) and Iceland v France (Monday July 18) all in the highly competitive Group D, which also includes Belgium.

The New York Stadium will also host a quarter-final.

The world’s leading stars traded plush green pitches for swanky red carpets as the draw took place at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse, with guests at a reception at the New York Stadium also following the event. Representatives of Rotherham United were also in Manchester for the draw.

Jamie Noble of Rotherham United and Sarah Wood from Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA were at the Women’s Euro 2022 draw at Manchester.

The ticket ballot application window is now officially open and former England caption Rio Ferdinand, who racked up 81 caps for the Three Lions, is backing the summer football bonanza to blaze a trail. 

He said: “Fans shouldn’t miss out on their chance to be at the biggest women’s EURO ever and enter the ticket ballot now. 

“I can’t wait to witness Wembley stadium for the final – its due to be the biggest European crowd for a women’s football match ever.

“What a moment for the women’s game that will leave such a massive legacy, inspiring huge numbers to be part of it in the future, whether its playing or watching! 

“It’s going to be massive next year – I’ve been told It’s set to be history-making for the sport which will be unreal to be a part of and not something you’d want to miss.

“It will definitely [bring about] more awareness of the women’s game and inspire others."

The public ballot will close on 16 November and remaining tickets will go on general sale from mid-February 2022 ahead of the tournament curtain-raiser at Old Trafford on July 6.

The final takes place at Wembley on July 31 and with the women’s game profile continuing to sky-rocket, the total attendance record for a UEFA Women’s EURO – currently 240,045 for Netherlands 2017 – is expected to be more than doubled.

New York Stadium will be one of ten host venues for the competition with London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton also featuring.

And Brighton, Milton Keynes, Trafford and Wigan & Leigh make up the locations that will welcome women’s football’s most highly-rated stars. 

England full back Lucy Bronze, whose side slipped to a semi-final defeat against home favourites the Netherlands at EURO 2017, added: “I'm so excited. We've been waiting for these home Euros for a long, long time considering how it got pushed back and cancelled last year. 

“As players, we're super excited to be playing as the home nation and playing all around the country in front of our fans. 

“All the groups are pretty strong. It's crazy now because the Euros now, so many teams are good whereas in years gone by, it was Germany, Germany and Norway. Now, it's Spain, Sweden, France are good, so's England, so's Holland - the list goes on and on. It's exciting.”  

England have been drawn with Austria, Norway and Northern Ireland in Group A.

England’s schedule is: Wed July 6 v Austria, Old Trafford

Mon July 11, v Norway, Brighton Community Stadium.

Fri July 15, v Northern Ireland, St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

The UEFA Women’s EURO England 2022 ticket ballot application window is now open and closes 16 November. For more information and to enter the public ballot for tickets, visit www.uefa.com/womenseuro/ticketing