Germany stepped into the spotlight as the host nation for UEFA Euro 2024, marking the 17th edition of this prestigious European Championship. The decision, finalized at a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Nyon on September 27, 2018, saw Germany selected over Türkiye, the only other contender. While West Germany had previously hosted Euro 1988, this tournament was Germany’s first time hosting as a unified nation, adding a layer of historical significance. The country’s strong footballing infrastructure, evidenced by hosting the 2006 FIFA World Cup, made it a prime choice for this major soccer event.
Key Dates for the Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 Tournament
Soccer Uefa Euro 2024 captivated fans globally from Friday, June 14, to Sunday, July 14, 2024. The month-long festival of football kicked off with the group stage, which ran until June 26, setting the stage for the high-stakes knockout phase that commenced on June 29.
As hosts, Germany automatically qualified and was placed as the top seed in Group A, position A1. This guaranteed they would play the highly anticipated opening match. Germany delivered a dominant performance in that opening game, securing a resounding 5-1 victory against Scotland at the Munich Football Arena on June 14. Germany, including its history as West Germany, boasts a consistent presence in the Euros since 1972. They have a rich tournament history, with West Germany winning the 1972 and 1980 titles, and a unified Germany adding to the tally with a victory at Euro ’96.
Which Nations Competed in Soccer UEFA Euro 2024?
The final tournament draw, a significant event in the lead-up to Soccer UEFA Euro 2024, took place in Hamburg on Saturday, December 2, 2023, dividing the qualified teams into six compelling groups:
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
*Teams Qualified via Play-offs
Fans were encouraged to enhance their EURO 2024 experience by creating a free MyUEFA account. This provided access to live streams, on-demand content, games, opportunities to engage with friends, chances to win exclusive prizes, and even the ability to apply for tickets to top-tier European soccer matches. Sign up for a free MyUEFA account to watch live streams and on-demand content, play games and challenge your friends, win money-can’t-buy prizes, and apply for tickets to Europe’s biggest games.
Tournament Structure of Soccer UEFA Euro 2024
Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 maintained the format successfully used in UEFA Euro 2020. The tournament featured six groups in the final stage, with the top two teams from each group automatically advancing to the round of 16. Adding to the excitement, the four best third-placed teams also qualified for the knockout stage, ensuring a highly competitive and thrilling path to the final. This structure maximized drama and kept fans engaged throughout the tournament.
Berlin Hosted the Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 Final
The iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin was selected as the venue for the Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 final, which took place on Sunday, July 14, 2024. In a thrilling match, Spain triumphed over England with a 2-1 victory, clinching their fourth EURO title. This win solidified Spain’s place in soccer UEFA Euro history as the first nation to achieve four championship wins, marking a significant milestone in European soccer.
Host Cities and Stadiums for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024
Germany presented ten world-class cities to host Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 matches. Impressively, nine of these venues were also utilized during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, demonstrating Germany’s consistent capability to host major soccer tournaments. The Düsseldorf Arena was the additional venue, rounding out the list of top-tier stadiums.
A notable highlight was the Munich Football Arena, which had the distinction of hosting matches for the second consecutive EURO tournament. This stadium, home to Bayern Munich, was among the eleven venues that hosted games during UEFA Euro 2020, showcasing its continued importance in European soccer.
Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 Host Cities:
- 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)
Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 host cities in Germany
Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 host cities across Germany.
Sustainability Initiatives at Soccer UEFA Euro 2024
Reflecting growing global awareness and expectations, Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 placed a strong emphasis on social and environmental sustainability. UEFA aimed for the tournament to set a new benchmark in sustainability for major sporting events through focused initiatives and investments. Details of the comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance strategy are available for review. The full Environmental, Social and Governance strategy can be found here.
Fan Zones at Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany
To enhance the fan experience, each Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 host city provided dedicated fan zones equipped with public viewing areas. These zones became vibrant hubs for supporters to gather, watch matches together, and celebrate the spirit of the tournament, creating memorable atmospheres throughout Germany.
Soccer fans gathering in Berlin Fan Zone during UEFA Euro 2024
Soccer fans enjoying the atmosphere at the Berlin Fan Zone during the Germany vs Scotland match of UEFA Euro 2024.
Official Match Ball: FUSSBALLLIEBE for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024
The official match ball for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 was named FUSSBALLLIEBE, which translates from German to “love of football.” This innovative ball was unveiled in November 2023 by UEFA and Adidas at a special event held in front of Berlin’s Olympiastadion. FUSSBALLLIEBE was notable for being the first UEFA EURO official match ball to feature adidas Connected Ball Technology, enhancing match analysis and the viewing experience.
Albärt: The Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 Mascot
Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 had an endearing official mascot named Albärt. Albärt, a teddy bear, was chosen through a public vote involving UEFA.com users and schoolchildren across Europe as part of the UEFA Football in Schools program. Albärt secured 32% of the vote, proving popular across all demographics. He was first introduced to German fans in Gelsenkirchen in June 2023, prior to a friendly match between Germany and Colombia.
Albärt, the official mascot for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024, during a trophy tour event.
Albärt, the official Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 mascot, pictured during the UEFA EURO 2024 Trophy Tour in Stuttgart.
City Ambassadors for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024
Each host city for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 was represented by dedicated city ambassadors, many of whom are well-known figures in German sports and culture:
- 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
Volunteers at Soccer UEFA Euro 2024
The Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 volunteer program saw incredible interest, with over 146,000 applications received. From this vast pool, 16,000 volunteers from 124 countries were selected to support the tournament. These volunteers were essential to the event’s success, serving in the ten host cities and stadiums. They played a crucial role in welcoming guests from around the world and embodying the tournament’s motto: ‘United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas,’ making EURO 2024 a truly inclusive event.
Volunteers at Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 played a crucial role in the tournament's success.
16,000 volunteers from across the globe contributed to the successful execution of Soccer UEFA Euro 2024.
Official Song for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024: FIRE
FIRE was chosen as the official song for Soccer UEFA Euro 2024, released across all major streaming platforms. This high-energy track is a collaboration between Italian producers Meduza, American pop-rock band OneRepublic, and German singer-songwriter Leony. Produced by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic and Meduza, FIRE blends anthemic house music, compelling pop-rock, and Leony’s pop sensibilities, perfectly capturing the passion of soccer and music fans alike.
eEURO 2024: Esports at Soccer UEFA Euro 2024
Extending the reach of Soccer UEFA Euro 2024 into the digital realm, UEFA eEURO 2024 took place, starting with online qualifiers in March 2024 and culminating in a live final in Germany during the summer. EA SPORTS FC™ 24 served as the official platform for UEFA eEURO 2024, highlighting the growing intersection of traditional soccer and esports.
