For the first time in the Macedonian football history, Macedonia will organize a final tounament, in this case the Women’s U19 EURO 2010. The UEFA Executive Committee took this decision on their meeting today in Moscow.

Macedonia have already organized few qualifying tournaments on different levels like the last one in Strumica and Turnovo which actually was a Women’s U19 EURO qualifying group.

The host stadiums are yet to be announced, but it is believed that Strumica will be given the chance of organization, again. This is a great opportunity for the women’s football in Macedonia as it is still on a very low level. UEFA showed that they are really doing their best to develop women’s football on every part of the European soil. After the small women’s football nations like Finland, Hungary, Iceland and Belarus, now Macedonia will get its chance. “It shows that we’re trying to develop football across the continent,” said UEFA General Secretary David Taylor.

Since Macedonia is a host nation, it will be given an automatic place in the final. The other 7 teams will be known after the end of the two qualification phases. The 7 qualified teams plus the host nation will be divided into 2 groups of 4 teams and will play 3 matches between them selfs in each group. The first two in each group will proceed in the semi-finals. The two semi-final winners will play in the grand final. The tournament is also a FIFA Women’s U20 World Championship qualification competition.

The first Women’s U19 European Championship was played in 1998 and it was a two-legged final, without a host nation. Winner was Denmark who beat France 2:0 and lost 3:2 but won the title on a better score. After that, the tournament was held each year with a host nation. Best nation is Germany, who lifted the trophy 5 times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007). Only France has been twice host, in 2000 and now in 2008 in the tournament that will start on 7th of July and will end on 19th July.