England midfielder Georgia Stanway has brought to light a heartwarming yet financially challenging reality for many players heading into the Euro 2025: they are dipping into their own savings to help their families afford the trip to Switzerland. With the tournament set to kick off in Zurich on July 5, the rising costs of flights, accommodation, and general living expenses in Switzerland are proving to be a significant hurdle for fans and families eager to support their loved ones.
Switzerland, while geographically closer for many European supporters compared to the 2023 World Cup in Australia, presents its own set of financial challenges. The country is renowned for its high cost of living, making it potentially prohibitive for many fans to attend the tournament. Stanway acknowledged this difficulty, stating, "My families can (attend), but I'm also aware that Switzerland is a very expensive country. Even just for flights, hotels, the cost of living there is extremely high, so we understand the demand it is on fans."
This financial strain is not lost on the players, who deeply value the presence and support of their families during such a significant career event. Stanway revealed that many players are personally contributing to ease the financial burden on their families. "A lot of us are putting our hands in our pockets to make sure that our families can get over there. We would love to see as many fans as possible, and we want to thank them in advance because we know it's not cheap," she said.
While the English Football Association (FA) provides a fixed sum to all 23 players to assist with travel and accommodation costs for loved ones, the exact amount remains undisclosed. This sum is reportedly equivalent to what the men's team receives for similar purposes and is comparable to the allocation provided to the Lionesses for the World Cup. In addition to this financial assistance, players also receive a small allocation of complimentary tickets for their families. Ella Toone, another key player for England and Manchester United, echoed Stanway's sentiments, acknowledging the expense of attending the tournament in Switzerland.
UEFA has significantly increased the prize money for the Women's Euro 2025, with a total of €41 million to be shared among the 16 participating teams. This represents a substantial 156% increase compared to the €16 million allocated in the previous edition. Each federation is guaranteed a minimum of €1.8 million, and for the first time, UEFA mandates that participating teams allocate between 30% and 40% of their prize money to the players. Moreover, clubs that release players for the tournament will share €6 million, with clubs receiving a daily rate of €657 per player.
The increased prize money and the mandated player allocation reflect UEFA's commitment to growing women's football across Europe. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stated that the tournament would bring more investment into the women's game than ever before, thanks to record prize money and unprecedented interest from sponsors.
The Lionesses will begin their Euro 2025 campaign against France in Zurich on July 5, followed by matches against the Netherlands and Wales in the group stage.
