Portugal looks to host another major football tournament

Portugal’s growing commercial power as the host of major sporting events could be strengthened yet again when the host of another major football tournament is revealed later this year.

The nation has already been confirmed as one of the co-hosts of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 – alongside Spain and Morocco.

It will be the first time the country has hosted matches for football’s premier showcase. It has previously hosted the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament which pulled in a global TV audience of some 2.5 billion.

Now, it hopes to become the sole host of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2029 event, capitalising on a growing interest in the women’s game.

The UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament, hosted in Switzerland, sold out 29 of 31 games with a global TV audience of more than 500 million.

Portugal has made the shortlist of four bids for 2029, with the winners being announced by UEFA, football’s European governing body, in December.

Alongside Portugal are Germany, Poland and a joint bid from Denmark and Sweden.

Success would be a major coup for Portugal which has developed an enviable reputation as a host for sporting and business events in recent years.

According to the annual rankings by the International Congress and Convention Association, Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, was second only to Vienna in hosting the most events during 2024. With 153 events, it was just one short of Austria’s table-topper.

It is also growing its golf presence, with the first PGA Tour-sanctioned individual stroke play tournament confirmed earlier this year.

Over the next five years, The Els Club Vilamoura, in the Algarve – designed by former US Open and The Open winner Ernie Els - will host the Portugal Invitational. It will feature 78 players from the PGA Tour Champions and Legends Tour circuits. The first tees off in July 2026.

In addition, it is seeking to reinstate the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao on the Formula 1 calendar for 2027.

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has said: “One of the circumstances that most contributes to promoting this region is major events.

“We have secured the MotoGP, the world’s premier motorcycling event, for 2025 and 2026.

“And I can tell you that we have everything ready to formalise the return of Formula 1 to the Algarve in 2027.”

UEFA’s executive committee will reveal the host nation for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2029 during a meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, on December 3.

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