Tourism Northern Ireland provided funding for the UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship. The tournament started this week. Matches occur in Belfast, Coleraine and Larne.

The Irish Football Association runs the event over two weeks at multiple venues. Seven qualified nations compete with hosts Northern Ireland. Teams divide into two groups of four. Top teams advance to semi-finals. The final takes place at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

The finals serve as qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup in Morocco. Emily Magee, Tourism NI Events Development Manager, and Angela Platt, IFA Director of Women’s Football, appeared at Windsor Park.

The championship forms one of 16 events backed by Tourism NI’s International Tourism Events Fund. That fund aids events drawing high visitor numbers and international media attention to Northern Ireland.

Organizers expect the tournament to generate almost £2 million for the economy. It should attract 20,000 visitors, with 15% from outside the region. Those visitors will book 8,800 commercial bed nights across hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and self-catering.