Germany was the proud host of the Soccer Euro Cup 2024, officially the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship. The decision was made at a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Nyon on September 27, 2018. Turkey was the only other nation bidding for the honor. While West Germany previously hosted the 1988 edition, this marked the first time unified Germany staged the prestigious tournament. The country also has a strong history of hosting major football events, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
When Did the Soccer Euro Cup 2024 Take Place?
The Soccer Euro Cup 2024 captivated fans from June 14th to July 14th, 2024. The tournament kicked off on June 14th with the group stage matches continuing until June 26th. The knockout stage excitement began on June 29th, leading to the grand finale.
As the host nation, Germany was automatically placed in Group A as position A1. This meant they had the privilege of playing the opening match – a thrilling 5-1 victory against Scotland – at the Munich Football Arena on Friday, June 14th. Germany, including its West German history, has been a consistent participant in the EUROs since 1972. West Germany clinched victory in both the 1972 and 1980 editions, while a unified Germany celebrated triumph at EURO ’96.
Which Nations Competed in the Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
The draw to determine the groups for the final tournament took place in Hamburg on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, setting the stage for exciting matchups.
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
Group D: Poland*, Netherlands, Austria, France
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine*
Group F: Türkiye, Georgia*, Portugal, Czechia
*Qualified through play-offs
What Was the Format of the Soccer Euro Cup 2024 Tournament?
The tournament format mirrored the successful structure of UEFA EURO 2020. The top two teams from each of the six groups advanced to the round of 16. They were joined by the four best third-placed teams from across all groups, ensuring a competitive and thrilling knockout stage.
Where Did the Soccer Euro Cup 2024 Final Take Place?
The prestigious Olympiastadion in Berlin hosted the Soccer Euro Cup 2024 final on Sunday, July 14th, 2024. In a historic match, Spain triumphed over England 2-1, securing their fourth EURO title and becoming the first nation to achieve this milestone.
Which Cities Hosted Soccer Euro Cup 2024 Matches?
Ten vibrant cities across Germany were selected as host venues for the Soccer Euro Cup 2024. Impressively, nine of these were also stadiums used for the 2006 World Cup, demonstrating Germany’s established football infrastructure. The Düsseldorf Arena was the additional venue, adding to the tournament’s reach.
Notably, the Munich Football Arena had the unique distinction of hosting matches for the second consecutive EURO, having been one of the 11 stadiums that hosted games during UEFA EURO 2020.
Here’s a list of the Soccer Euro Cup 2024 host cities and their stadiums:
Berlin: Olympiastadion Berlin (Capacity: 71,000)
Cologne: Cologne Stadium (Capacity: 43,000)
Dortmund: BVB Stadion Dortmund (Capacity: 62,000)
Dusseldorf: Düsseldorf Arena (Capacity: 47,000)
Frankfurt: Frankfurt Arena (Capacity: 47,000)
Gelsenkirchen: Arena AufSchalke (Capacity: 50,000)
Hamburg: Volksparkstadion Hamburg (Capacity: 49,000)
Leipzig: Leipzig Stadium (Capacity: 40,000)
Munich: Munich Football Arena (Capacity: 66,000)
Stuttgart: Stuttgart Arena (Capacity: 51,000)
Panoramic view of the ten Soccer Euro Cup 2024 host cities across Germany
What Green Initiatives Were Implemented at Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
Reflecting the growing global emphasis on sustainability, Soccer Euro Cup 2024 prioritized environmental and social responsibility. UEFA aimed to set a benchmark for large-scale sporting events by implementing targeted sustainability measures and investments. Detailed information can be found in the full Environmental, Social and Governance strategy.
Did Soccer Euro Cup 2024 Have Fan Zones in Germany?
Yes! Every host city enthusiastically welcomed fans to dedicated fan zones, offering public viewing areas and vibrant atmospheres for supporters to gather and celebrate the tournament.
Excited fans in Berlin's Soccer Euro Cup 2024 Fan Zone at Platz der Republik in front of the Reichstag
What Was the Official Match Ball for Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
FUSSBALLLIEBE, meaning “love of football” in German, was the Official Match Ball of UEFA EURO 2024, used throughout the tournament. Unveiled in November 2023 by UEFA and Adidas in Berlin, FUSSBALLLIEBE was groundbreaking as it featured adidas Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a EURO competition, providing precise ball data.
Who Was the Mascot for Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
Albärt, a charming teddy bear, was chosen as the official mascot for the tournament following a public vote involving UEFA.com users and schoolchildren across Europe. Albärt secured 32% of the vote and was introduced to German fans in Gelsenkirchen in June 2023, prior to a friendly match between Germany and Colombia.
Albärt the teddy bear, official mascot of Soccer Euro Cup 2024, on the trophy tour in Stuttgart
Who Were the City Ambassadors for Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
Each host city proudly appointed ambassadors, often local football legends and personalities, to represent and promote the Soccer Euro Cup 2024:
Berlin: Kevin-Prince Boateng
Cologne: Harald Schumacher
Dortmund: Roman Weidenfeller, Annike Krahn
Düsseldorf: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Sandra Mikolaschek, Selin Oruz
Frankfurt: Alex Meier, Deborah Levi
Gelsenkirchen: Gerald Asamoah
Hamburg: Patrick Esume
Leipzig: Professor Dr Jörg Junhold, Anja Mittag, Jürgen Zielinski
Munich: Dr Felix Brych
Stuttgart: Cacau, Niko Kappel, Eli Seitz
Was There a Volunteer Program for Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
An overwhelming 146,000 passionate football fans applied to volunteer at Soccer Euro Cup 2024. From this huge number, 16,000 volunteers from 124 different nations were selected.
These dedicated volunteers were present across the ten host cities and stadiums, playing a crucial role in welcoming visitors from around the globe and embodying the tournament’s motto: ‘United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas.’ They truly helped make the EURO a memorable event for everyone.
Group photo of the 16,000 Soccer Euro Cup 2024 volunteers smiling and celebrating their involvement
What Was the Official Song of Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
FIRE was the electrifying official song for Soccer Euro Cup 2024. This collaboration featured Italian producers Meduza, American pop-rock band OneRepublic, and German singer-songwriter Leony. Written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic and produced by Meduza, “FIRE” blended anthemic house music, compelling pop-rock, and Leony’s pop sensibility, capturing the passion of both football and music fans.
Was there eEURO for Soccer Euro Cup 2024?
Yes, UEFA eEURO 2024 took place, starting with online qualifiers in March 2024 and culminating in the finals in Germany during the summer. EA SPORTS FC™ 24 served as the official platform for UEFA eEURO 2024, bringing the excitement of the tournament to the virtual world.
