England are to play the opening match of UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 at Old Trafford, in what promises to be a record-breaking edition of the European tournament next summer.

With Sunday 23rd February marking 500 days to go until the action kicks-off on 7th July 2021, The FA have released the full match schedule. It includes confirmation that England will open the tournament at the iconic 74,879-capacity venue in Greater Manchester, offering the host nation the opportunity to break the attendance record for a UEFA Women’s Euro in its opening fixture.

Home of Manchester United FC, Old Trafford is one of ten grounds across the country which will stage UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 matches next summer. Wembley Stadium - with a capacity of 90,000 - will host the showpiece final on 1st August, meaning the venue is hosting back-to-back men’s and women’s European Championship finals in 2020 and 2021.

As tournament hosts, Phil Neville’s Lionesses qualify automatically and will complete their group stage fixtures in front of home crowds at a further two Premier League venues - Brighton & Hove Albion’s Community Stadium and St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.

Now in its 13th edition, the UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 is poised to be the biggest women’s Euro to date, with over 700,000 tickets available to fans and extensive coverage of every game of the tournament available on free-to-air television, radio and online. Fans will be able to see some of the world’s best players in action on home soil as 31 matches are played across 26 days.

Baroness Sue Campbell DBE, FA Director of Women’s Football and UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 Board Member, said: “The confirmation of Old Trafford as the iconic venue for England’s opening game shows just how big our aspirations for UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 are.”

“As a proud host nation, our aim is not only to deliver a record-breaking tournament, but also to ensure that it provides a tangible legacy in terms of growing the women’s game. By inspiring fans both at home and abroad, and by committing to providing playing opportunities to girls in every school and club across the country, I am confident that we can do exactly that.”

Phil Neville, England Women’s Head Coach, added: “It doesn’t get much bigger than managing your country at a home Euros and, to have the opportunity to do so at a stadium that holds so many memories for me, is huge. Old Trafford has a special place in my heart, but it is also one of the country’s most iconic football grounds.”

To register for tickets, as well as tournament news, competitions and volunteering opportunities, please visit www.thefa.com/weuro2021. For tournament updates, you can also follow @WEUROEngland21 across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.