Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nancy, Nice, Paris and St Denis have been selected by the federal council, with St Etienne and Toulouse named 'reserve cities'.

Lens and Nancy edged the final two places ahead of Toulouse and St Etienne.

FFF president Fernand Duchaussoy said: "Lens has been selected for Euro '84, World Cup '98 and the Rugby World Cup, so there is a history and that record is quite advanced.

"For Nancy, it was important that there was a city in the east. We know that [UEFA president] Michel Platini is very attached to his native region.

"All dossiers were very, very high quality, but the choice was very clear and was made in the first round."

France were named hosts of Euro 2016 by UEFA's executive committee ahead of Turkey and Italy last May.

Les Bleus emerged triumphant the last time they staged a major football event, winning the World Cup on home soil 13 years ago.