Sweden, Norway make joint bid to host Euro 2016

OSLO, Norway (AP) -- The Swedish and Norwegian soccer federations announced a joint bid Thursday to host the 2016 European Championship.

"We cooperate very well and we have organized championships in the past," said Lars-Ake Lagrell, chairman of the Swedish soccer federation.

The proposed host cities and stadiums will be announced later. UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, has announced that the number of teams for the tournament will increased from 16 to 24.

"The construction of our new national stadium in Solna will begin this spring," Lagrell said. "It will feature a sliding roof and will be ready in 2012 with a capacity of 50,000 spectators. We also have Ullevi stadium in Goteborg and there are several other stadium projects."

Sweden hosted the Euros in 1992, when only eight teams participated and four stadiums were used.

Other countries considering bids for the 2016 Euros include France, Turkey, Greece, Hungary and Romania, Russia and Italy. The host will be chosen by UEFA in May 2010.

Poland and Ukraine are set to co-host the 2012 Euros.