#uefa-hosting-bids

#uefa-hosting-bids

FIFA holds a monopoly over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup and has used that power to impose conditions on fans that would never be acceptable in a competitive market.

Wales is looking for a second-straight World Cup berth after a magical run in 2022 ended a 64-year drought. This is as prosperous a time for Welsh soccer as any, even without its greatest export, Gareth Bale. The Dragons reached the semifinals of the European Championships in 2016 and then advanced to the round of 16 in 2020.

Crystal Palace's dreary Premier League season still holds hope of a title as the Eagles learned their draw for the Conference League knockout rounds on Friday. The Eagles will meet Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Round of 16 and could have to take down Fiorentina, AZ Alkmaar, Shakhtar Donetsk, or Sparta Prague if they want to reach the May 27 final in Leipzig.

Ireland are comforted to the return of full fitness of Courtney Brosnan, even if her side had successfully negotiated the Belgium promotion play-offs without her, albeit not without some fraught moments for Grace Moloney. The other two changes from that last-gasp aggregate success in Leuven saw Megan Connolly displace Ruesha Littlejohn, who has played effectively no football since, while Anna Patten came in for Jess Stapleton.

Europe has never been short on spectacle. Yet beyond the headline cities and endlessly recycled itineraries lies a quieter, deeper continent; one that's best encountered through patience and a willingness to detour from the obvious itinerary. Our 7 wonders of Europe for 2026 in Europe are not places that beg for attention. Instead, they reward those prepared to explore more than a few miles from the nearest airport and linger a little longer than planned.

respect the traditions of European basketball.

The UEFA Conference League is considered Europe's third-best continental tournament, and through four seasons it's delivered titles to four clubs from three countries. Three-quarters of the finalists have come from three of the top-four leagues in the world while 2023-24 champion Olympiacos of Greece and 2021-22 finalist Feyenoord of the Netherlands have also reached competed for the crown.

The draw for the rest of the competition will be held on Friday, February 27 2026 in Nyon, Switzerland. The ceremony will start at 12:00 GMT (07:00 ET / 04:00 PT). The draw will be shown live on UEFA's website, UEFA.tv and the official Europa League app.

Celtic have never appeared in the Conference League and should the unthinkable happen and Martin O'Neill can't save the title defence, UEFA's third-tier competition will await the Bhoys. O'Neill could see Celtic in Pot 1 alongside Eintracht Frankfurt, AZ Alkmaar, Athletic Club, Slovan Bratislava and Basel.

Over the next 12 months the capital will host a vast range of sporting events, truly living up to its rep as the planet's greatest city for sport. Those events will include notable firsts, like Wembley hosting its first ever college American football game) and the inaugural rugby union Nations Championship finals, plus important returns, such as NBA at the O2 and tennis' Laver Cup. In September London will become the first city to have ever hosted the Laver twice.