NYON, Switzerland (AP) — The Women’s European Championship in 2021 was postponed by one year on Thursday, moving out of a direct clash with the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
UEFA’s executive committee agreed that the 16-nation tournament in England will now be played from July 6-31 in 2022.
The switch was inevitable after the IOC decided last month on a one-year postponement for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic. Women’s soccer games begin before the Tokyo opening ceremony on July 23 next year.
An Olympic title is prized more in women’s soccer than in the men’s game, and three European teams — the Netherlands, Sweden and a British team potentially with mostly England players — are in the 12-nation lineup in Japan.