World Cup playoffs: first in Besançon, Saturday 11, return in Gubbio on 15
Places of Tournament
Tampere Stadium
Capacity:16.800
The Tampere Stadium was built in 1965 and stages several sports but its primary use is for football, and as well as the local club, Finland's national team have played there on a number of occasions. The stadium was renovated in 2004.
Lahti Stadium
Capacity: 8.000
The Lahti Stadium, built in 1981 and revamped for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup, is not only used for football but also athletics, lacrosse, cross-country skiing and biathlon, in which it has staged the world championship three times.
Helsinki Football Stadium
Capacity: 10.770
The Helsinki Football Stadium was opened in 2000 as well as being used by the capital's biggest club and the national team, it staged the final of the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Although it usually has an articifial surface, a grass pitch will be laid for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009.
Turku Stadium
Capacity: 9.000
The Turku Stadium, home to both the city's top-flight clubs, was built to stage events at the 1952 Olympic games and revamped in 2003, in time for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Finland. A further 1,600 seats are being installed for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™.
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Capacity: 40.000
Helsinki's Olympic Stadium, was opened in 1938, and was due to stage the summer games two years later but war was to intervene. However, the Olympics did come to the Finnish capital in 1952, occuring in the shadow of the stadium's 72m-high tower, which commands superb views of the city. It has continued to stage major international sporting events, not least the inaugural IAAF World Championship in Athletics in 1983, in 2005. Major concerts are also held at the arena, with the Rolling Stones having played there six times.




