The UEFA Women's Championship, commonly referred to as the UEFA Women's Cup or the Women's Euro, is the main competition for women's national football teams in Europe and is held every four years. The tournament was first held in 1984 and has been held every four years since then. The current format of the tournament consists of a group stage followed by a knockout stage. The group stage consists of eight groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. The knockout stage consists of two semi-finals, a third-place match and a final. The tournament is contested by the senior women's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. The current champions are the Netherlands, who won the 2017 edition. The most successful team in the tournament is Germany, who have won the tournament eight times. The tournament is an important event in the women's football calendar and is seen as a major stepping stone for the development of the game in Europe. It is also seen as a platform for the promotion of women's football and the empowerment of women in sport. The tournament is also a major source of revenue for UEFA, with the 2017 edition generating €20 million in revenue. This money is used to fund various UEFA initiatives, including the development of women's football. The tournament is also an important event in the football calendar, with the final being broadcast live in over 100 countries. This helps to raise the profile of the tournament and the women's game in general. The tournament is also an important event for the players, with the winners receiving a trophy and a cash prize. This helps to motivate the players and encourages them to strive for excellence. The tournament is a great event for the fans too, with the atmosphere in the stadiums being electric. The tournament is a great opportunity for fans to come together and celebrate the beautiful game.