The heart behind Europe’s biggest football moments
December 5, 2025
On International Volunteer Day, we celebrate nearly 5,000 volunteers from over 70 nations who made our biggest events in 2025 unforgettable, showcasing how football’s true power lies in its people.
From the roar of packed stadiums to the magic behind the scenes, 2025 was an unforgettable year for UEFA competitions, supported by a wonderful team of volunteers from all over the world. Across Switzerland for the UEFA Women’s EURO and in five iconic cities for Europe’s biggest finals, thousands of individuals gave their time and passion to create world-class experiences for fans, teams and communities. Their dedication turned tournaments into memories that will last a lifetime.
UEFA Women’s EURO 2025: fan parades, ceremonies and welcoming Prince William
Switzerland hosted the most successful Women’s EURO ever last summer, with record attendances and global attention. England retained their title after a dramatic penalty shootout against Spain in Basel, capping a tournament that sold out almost every match. Volunteers played a vital role in various sectors, including accreditations, operations and VIP, where they welcomed prestigious guests such as Prince William and Princess Charlotte, as well as Spanish royalty Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia at the final.
The Women’s EURO 2025 volunteer programme in numbers:
- 2,500 volunteers across 8 venues
- 17 domains of activity – from accreditation, guests and VIP, ceremonies to fan zones and sustainability
- 12,800 applications and 4,100 interviews
- Representing 73 nationalities and speaking 30+ languages
- 83% were first-time volunteers at a UEFA event
- Average age: 46 years
- Gender split: 44% He – 55% She – 1% They
- 98% would volunteer again
2025 club finals: A global effort
One-day finals require months of preparation and a joint effort to welcome thousands of fans for some of the most anticipated matches of the year. From Munich to Lisbon, Bilbao to Wroclaw and Udine, five major finals showcased the power of volunteering:
- 2,400 volunteers across 5 venues
- 23 domains of activity
- 16,388 applications from 64 countries
- 61% had volunteered before – continuing the legacy from EURO 2024 and previous finals
- Age range: 18 to 91 years
- 99% want to return for future events
These figures highlight not only the scale but also the passion of UEFA’s volunteer community.
Looking ahead: Volunteer opportunities in 2026…
The journey continues! In 2026, UEFA will host five finals in Budapest, Oslo, Istanbul, Leipzig and Salzburg. Up to 2,000 volunteers will be involved, with applications opening mid-January on volunteercommunity.uefa.com.
- Eligibility: 18+
- Recruitment: Managed by local volunteer management teams from hosting national associations. Visit the official volunteers website for more information.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being part of the action, now is your chance!
and beyond!
With the UK and Ireland set to host UEFA EURO 2028 and Germany preparing for the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2029, a wave of exciting new volunteering opportunities is on the horizon.
Thank You
To everybody who contributed in 2025: thank you for making history possible. Your commitment and passion are what make our events truly special.
UEFA supports the UN’s International Year of Volunteers 2026
As we celebrate International Volunteer Day, UEFA proudly endorses the United Nations’ initiative declaring 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026). This global campaign recognises volunteerism as a driving force for progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and calls on organisations, communities, and individuals to promote and strengthen volunteering worldwide.
Learn more at unv.org and join us in supporting this important movement.