It was an illustrious crowd of current and former Swiss national team players who had gathered on the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe. Leading lights Lara Dickenmann and Kathrin Lehmann played alongside 80-time international Fabienne Humm and youngsters Elynn Raymond and Luana Blanco. They were joined by Johan Djourou, a former player for the Swiss national team and current sporting coordinator of the Swiss women's senior national team.

The opponents were players from a European selection, such as the former English international Anita Asante, the former French international Jessica Houara-d'Hommeaux and the former Danish international Janni Arndt. Former Swiss international David Degen completed the European squad. Both Degen and Djourou were already on the Jungfraujoch in 2007, back then for the kick-off for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

A circle closes for Urs Kessler

‘I've come full circle,’ explained Jungfrau Railways Director Urs Kessler. After all, he initiated the first major event on the Jungfraujoch in 2007 with the kick-off for the 2008 Men's Euro. ‘Since then, we have held over 20 such events up here at 3454 metres above sea level, for example with NBA star Tony Parker, the Klitschko brothers, tennis ace Roger Federer, the Northern Irish professional golfer Rory McIlroy and the Chinese star pianist Lang Lang.’ And the weather played along every time.

Kick-off for the exclusive match on the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe in front of numerous invited guests and media representatives was at 11.45 am. Even before the game, down at the Grindelwald Terminal, there was a premiere: Cabin number 1 of the Eiger Express tricable gondola was branded exclusively for the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 and will be in use for almost a year. ‘This is clearly a one-off. After the final next year, the cabin will be back in its usual guise,’ explained Urs Kessler.

Launch of advance ticket sales and recruitment of volunteers

The kick-off was used both to launch advance ticket sales and to start the recruitment of volunteers for next year's tournament. The UEFA Women's Euro 2025, which will take place from 2 to 27 July 2025, will be held in eight different cities in Switzerland. ‘I am delighted that we can kick off the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 with this exclusive match. This is a highlight that will be followed by many more during the Euro next year,’ said Jungfrau Railways Director Urs Kessler.