Nyon, Switzerland - France and Italy will be battling to stage football's European Championships in 2016, UEFA confirmed on Tuesday.

Europe's governing body has also received proposals from Turkey and a joint bid from Sweden and Norway.

UEFA said the candidates will have to submit bid dossiers by February 2010. UEFA officials will then visit the bidding countries to evaluate their plans.

Its executive committee will make a final decision on May 27, 2010.

It is a second successive attempt by Italy to host the European Championships after losing out to Poland and Ukraine in their successful joint bid for Euro 2012.

Italy were hosts in 1968 and 1980, while France hosted the first championships in 1960 and were again hosts in 1984. Sweden meanwhile were the 1992 hosts.

UEFA is expanding the 2016 tournament from 16 to 24 teams.

Monday was the deadline for associations to signal their interest in hosting the tournament.

UEFA said in a statement it would now review the eligibility of the interested candidates.

The review will be "based on the various technical requirements relating to the potential infrastructure needed as well as any previous experience of the relevant member associations, cities and venues in organizing multi-venue sports events, before confirming the official list of bidders." (dpa)