Sawt Falasteen - Euro 2025 ticket sales kick off in snowy Alps

At 3,454 metres high on the saddle between the Jungfrau and the Monch mountains, a temporary pitch was laid out for the launch -- but such were the conditions, the snow had to be brushed and shovelled off before the first potshots at goal could be taken.

A total of 720,000 tickets are available for Euro 2025, with prices starting at 25 Swiss francs ($26.75).

"We have very good stadiums and we are in the heart of Europe," Euro 2025 tournament director Doris Keller told AFP.

"We hope to get more tourists and foreigners to Switzerland to come to this beautiful country," adding it was beautiful "except maybe today!" as the icy wind blew snow in her eyes.

"And we hope that we're going to have a good football showing in Switzerland."

Keller said she hoped the tournament would boost the level of women's football in the country.

"We want to strengthen the league, the female players in Switzerland, so we have more a long-term plan as we are not a female football nation yet. But this will give definitely a boost," she said.

The 16-team tournament will be held from July 2 to 27 next year.

Nine teams have already qualified: hosts Switzerland, champions England, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

Twenty-eight teams are playing off for the final seven places, with the tournament draw to be held on December 16 in Lausanne.

Matches will be staged in eight cities: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, St. Gallen, Sion, Thun and Zurich.

The opening match and the final will be held at the 38,000-capacity St. Jakob-Park in Basel.

"Summer 2025 should be a summer of joy and further boost the boom in women's football," said Swiss Football Association president Dominique Blanc.

"Individuals and families will have the chance to see the best players in Europe at very reasonable prices and thanks to combined tickets, to travel comfortably and cheaply by train from anywhere in Switzerland to the eight host cities."

Meanwhile Euro 2025 organisers put out a call for 2,500 volunteers to welcome fans, guests and media in city centres, fan zones or at stadiums.

N.Shalabi--SF-PST