France has held off competition from Italy and Turkey to secure the right to stage the UEFA European Football Championship in 2016 - the first to feature 24 teams.

UEFA president Michel Platini confirmed the decision following a ballot of executive committee members at the Espace Hippomène in Geneva, Switzerland, which saw Italy eliminated first. France, which has previously hosted two World Cups (1938 and 1998) and Euro 84, secured the right to stage the 2016 tournament after its bid secured a majority of one over Turkey from a second ballot.

The French bid includes 12 venues across 11 cities, seven of which will require major redevelopment work and four new builds. Two of the 2016 venues will be located in Paris.