Łódź has wrapped up its hosting of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Twenty matches, including the tournament final, were played at the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium. The event brought the city not only international exposure but also tangible financial and infrastructural benefits. The project’s overall financial result proved to be a gain of nearly 1.2 million zlotys for Łódź.
20 World Cup matches in Łódź
The Władysław Król Municipal Stadium at 2 Unii Lubelskiej Ave. was one of the venues for the U-20 Women’s World Cup. A total of 20 matches were played in Łódź: 12 group stage matches, two round-of-16 matches, two quarterfinals, two semifinals, the third-place match, and the final, which was watched by 8,047 spectators from the stands.
The main organizer of the tournament was the Polish Football Association, which was also responsible for promotional activities carried out on behalf of the city. The campaign included, among others, the Onet and Sport.pl websites, 14 shopping malls, 141 screens in fitness clubs, 14 Helios movie theaters, and 20 daily newspapers published by the Polska Press Group.
A state-of-the-art playing surface for 1.2 million zloty
One of the most significant benefits for Łódź was the modernization of the turf at the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium. A hybrid system with a market value of approximately 1.2 million PLN was installed at the expense of FIFA and the Polish Football Association (PZPN).
The new solution increases the surface's durability and reduces the risk of damage during heavy use. The project will remain a permanent part of the city's sports infrastructure, improving conditions for future games.
Investments in training fields and new equipment
The benefits of hosting the tournament also extended to the training facilities of the Municipal Sports and Recreation Center. Specialized maintenance work was carried out on the fields at 5 Małachowskiego Street and 19 Krańcowa Street, including sandblasting, surface and foliar fertilization, and additional line marking. The work, valued at approximately 46,000 PLN, was funded by the Polish Football Association (PZPN).
The association also donated four rotary mowers to the city, with a total value of 200,000 PLN. The equipment will be used for the ongoing maintenance of the city’s sports fields. In addition, MOSiR received 150,000 PLN from the rental of two training facilities.
The facility at 12 Potokowa Street, used by Milan Club Polonia, also received support. Thanks to the efforts of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), the quality of the turf there was improved, and the club received three additional mowers.
A Positive Financial Balance for Łódź
For the purposes of the championship, the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium and the training facilities on Małachowskiego, Krańcowa, and Potokowa Streets were made available to the organizer on a commercial basis. The costs incurred by the city for the preparation and operation of these facilities were fully reimbursed by the Polish Football Association (PZPN).
Łódź allocated a total of 417,387.07 PLN (gross) for preparations for the championships and their promotion. At the same time, the value of the financial and infrastructural benefits obtained exceeded the expenses incurred by nearly 1.2 million PLN.
Hosting the U-20 Women’s World Championship thus brought Łódź not only international exposure, but also lasting benefits in the form of modernized infrastructure, new equipment, and additional funding for the maintenance of the city’s sports facilities.
