Germany proudly hosted UEFA EURO 2024, marking the 17th edition of this prestigious European Championship. The decision to award hosting rights to Germany was made at a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Nyon on September 27, 2018. Facing competition only from Türkiye in the bidding process, Germany emerged as the chosen nation. While West Germany had previously hosted EURO 1988, this tournament was the first time unified Germany staged the UEFA European Championship, adding to their history of hosting major football events like the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
EURO 2024 captivated football fans from June 14 to July 14, 2024. The tournament kicked off on June 14 with the group stage matches, which ran until June 26. The excitement escalated with the knockout stage beginning on June 29, leading to the highly anticipated final.
As the host nation, Germany automatically qualified and was placed as the top seed in Group A, position A1. This ensured they played the opening match – a thrilling 5-1 victory against Scotland – at the Munich Football Arena on Friday, June 14. Germany, including its West German history, boasts a consistent presence at every EURO since 1972. Their legacy includes three championship titles: West Germany in 1972 and 1980, and a unified Germany triumphing at EURO ’96.
The draw for the EURO 2024 final tournament took place in Hamburg on Saturday, December 2, 2023, setting the stage for the competition. The final groups were:
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 marked with an asterisk qualified through play-offs, adding an extra layer of drama to their journey to EURO 2024.
The tournament format mirrored the successful UEFA EURO 2020. From the group stage, 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, ensuring a competitive and exciting knockout phase.
Berlin’s iconic Olympiastadion was selected to host the EURO 2024 final on Sunday, July 14, 2024. In a thrilling match, Spain defeated England 2-1, claiming their fourth EURO title and becoming the first nation to achieve this milestone.
Ten host cities across Germany were selected to stage the EURO 2024 matches. Impressively, nine of these were also venues for the 2006 World Cup, demonstrating Germany’s established football infrastructure. The Düsseldorf Arena was the additional venue, completing the list of top-tier stadiums. Munich Football Arena held the distinction of hosting matches for the second consecutive EURO, having been one of the eleven venues for UEFA EURO 2020.
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)
The ten UEFA EURO 2024 host cities
EURO 2024 Host Cities: A map showcasing the ten vibrant German cities that hosted the UEFA European Championship matches.
Reflecting a growing global awareness, EURO 2024 prioritized sustainability. UEFA implemented a comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, aiming to set a benchmark for social and environmental responsibility in football tournaments. Detailed information about these initiatives can be found in the full ESG strategy document.
To enhance the fan experience, each host city created dedicated fan zones with large public viewing screens. These zones became hubs for supporters to gather, celebrate, and enjoy the tournament atmosphere together.
Berlin
Berlin EURO 2024 Fan Zone: Football fans enjoying the match between Germany and Scotland at the fan zone in Platz der Republik, with the Reichstag in the background.
The official match ball of UEFA EURO 2024 was named FUSSBALLLIEBE, meaning “love of football” in German. Unveiled in Berlin in November 2023, this Adidas-designed ball featured Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a EURO tournament, providing precise ball data and enhancing match analysis.
Albärt, a charming teddy bear, was chosen as the official EURO 2024 mascot. Selected through a vote involving UEFA.com users and schoolchildren, Albärt won 32% of the vote. He was introduced to German fans in June 2023 and became a beloved symbol of the tournament.
Albärt, the official UEFA EURO 2024 mascot
EURO 2024 Mascot Albärt: The official teddy bear mascot, Albärt, pictured during the UEFA EURO 2024 trophy tour in Stuttgart.
Each host city also appointed city ambassadors, local personalities who promoted the tournament and their respective cities. These ambassadors included football legends and notable figures:
- 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
A significant volunteer program was implemented for EURO 2024. Out of over 146,000 applications, 16,000 volunteers from 124 countries were selected. These volunteers played a crucial role in the tournament’s success, embodying the motto ‘United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas.’
There were 16,000 volunteers at EURO 2024
EURO 2024 Volunteers: A group photograph of the 16,000 volunteers who contributed to the success of the UEFA European Championship in Germany.
The official EURO 2024 song, titled “FIRE,” was a collaboration between Italian producers Meduza, American band OneRepublic, and German singer Leony. Released across streaming platforms, “FIRE” became the soundtrack of the tournament, capturing the energy and passion of EURO 2024.
UEFA eEURO 2024, the esports version of the tournament, also took place. Qualifiers began online in March 2024, culminating in the finals in Germany, showcasing top EA SPORTS FC™ 24 players representing their nations.
In conclusion, EURO 2024 in Germany was a resounding success, delivering thrilling football action, vibrant fan experiences, and a commitment to sustainability. From the host cities to the volunteers, mascot, and official song, every element contributed to a memorable European Championship.
