The UEFA EURO 2024, hosted by Germany, was a thrilling football spectacle that captivated fans across the globe. Germany was selected to host the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship at a UEFA Executive Committee meeting held 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 the 1988 edition, this tournament marked the first time Germany staged the EUROs since its reunification. The country’s strong footballing history also includes hosting the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
EURO 2024: Tournament Dates and Key Milestones
The EURO 2024 tournament officially kicked off on June 14, 2024, and concluded exactly one month later on July 14, 2024. This month-long festival of football was packed with action from start to finish.
The group stage matches, which set the stage for the knockout rounds, ran until June 26, 2024. Following a brief pause, the knockout stage commenced on June 29, 2024, intensifying the competition as teams battled for a place in the final.
As the host nation, Germany was automatically placed in Group A and designated to position A1. This meant they had the honor of playing the opening match, a memorable 5-1 victory against Scotland, at the Munich Football Arena on Friday, June 14. Germany, including its history as West Germany, boasts a consistent presence at the EUROs, participating in every edition since 1972. Their rich EURO history includes West Germany’s triumphs in 1972 and 1980, and a further victory for the reunified Germany at EURO ’96.
EURO 2024 Qualified Teams and Group Stage Breakdown
The draw to determine the final tournament groups took place in Hamburg on Saturday, December 2, 2023. The groups were structured as follows:
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 the play-offs, adding an extra layer of drama to their journey to EURO 2024.
EURO 2024 Tournament Format: A Familiar Structure
The tournament format for EURO 2024 mirrored the successful structure used in UEFA EURO 2020. The top two teams from each of the six groups automatically advanced to the round of 16. They were joined by the four best third-placed teams, ensuring that even teams with a less dominant group stage performance still had a chance to compete for the title. This format creates exciting competition and opportunities for unexpected teams to progress deep into the tournament.
The EURO 2024 Final: Location and Outcome
The grand finale of EURO 2024 was held in Berlin at the iconic Olympiastadion on Sunday, July 14, 2024. In a thrilling match, Spain emerged victorious, defeating England 2-1. This win marked a historic moment as Spain became the first nation to secure four EURO titles, cementing their place in European football history.
Host Cities of EURO 2024: Across Germany
Games were played across ten vibrant host cities throughout Germany. Impressively, nine of these venues were also utilized during the 2006 World Cup, demonstrating Germany’s established football infrastructure. The Düsseldorf Arena was the additional venue supplementing the already world-class stadiums.
A unique aspect of EURO 2024 was that the Munich Football Arena hosted matches for the second consecutive EURO tournament. This stadium, home to Bayern Munich, was among the eleven arenas that hosted games during UEFA EURO 2020, highlighting its continued importance on the European stage.
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)
Map of the ten UEFA EURO 2024 host cities across Germany, highlighting their locations and accessibility.
The ten UEFA EURO 2024 host cities
Sustainability Initiatives at EURO 2024
Reflecting growing global awareness, EURO 2024 placed a strong emphasis on social and environmental sustainability. UEFA EURO 2024 aimed to set a benchmark in sustainable tournament management through various targeted initiatives and investments. Details of the tournament’s comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance strategy are available here.
Fan Zones and Public Viewing in Germany
Each host city created dedicated fan zones, offering public viewing areas for supporters to come together and experience the excitement of EURO 2024. These fan zones became hubs of activity, fostering a vibrant atmosphere throughout the tournament.
Enthusiastic football fans gathering in the Berlin Fan Zone at Platz der Republik, in front of the Reichstag building, during a EURO 2024 match.
Berlin’s Fan Zone at Platz der Republik, Berlin-Tiergarten, provided a central location for fans. Image courtesy of AFP via Getty Images.
FUSSBALLLIEBE: The Official EURO 2024 Match Ball
The official match ball of UEFA EURO 2024 was named FUSSBALLLIEBE, which translates from German to “love of football”. Unveiled in November 2023 by UEFA and Adidas in Berlin, this ball was notable for featuring adidas Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a EURO tournament.
Albärt: The EURO 2024 Mascot
The official mascot for EURO 2024 was named Albärt – a teddy bear who won 32% of the vote in a poll involving UEFA.com users and schoolchildren across Europe. Albärt was introduced to German fans in June 2023 in Gelsenkirchen, adding a friendly face to the tournament’s branding.
Albärt, the official UEFA EURO 2024 mascot, posing with the trophy during a promotional event in Stuttgart.
Albärt, the official UEFA EURO 2024 mascot, brought a fun element to the tournament. Image courtesy of UEFA via Getty Images.
City Ambassadors for EURO 2024: Local Legends
Each host city appointed ambassadors, often local footballing legends or prominent figures, to represent their city during EURO 2024. These ambassadors played a role in promoting the tournament and engaging with fans.
EURO 2024 City Ambassadors:
- Berlin: Kevin-Prince Boateng
- Cologne: Harald Schumacher
- Dortmund: Roman Weidenfeller, Annike Krahn
- Dusseldorf: 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
EURO 2024 Volunteer Programme: The Heart of the Tournament
An impressive 16,000 volunteers from 124 nations were selected from over 146,000 applicants to support EURO 2024. These volunteers were crucial to the smooth running of the event, welcoming guests and embodying the tournament’s motto: ‘United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas.’
A diverse group of EURO 2024 volunteers in uniform, smiling and standing together to represent the large volunteer team.
16,000 volunteers played a vital role in the success of EURO 2024.
“FIRE”: The Official EURO 2024 Song
The official song of EURO 2024, titled “FIRE”, was a collaboration between Italian producers Meduza, American pop-rock band OneRepublic, and German singer-songwriter Leony. This energetic track aimed to capture the passion and excitement of both football and music fans.
eEURO 2024: Esports Competition
UEFA eEURO 2024 expanded the EURO experience into the digital realm. The esports tournament, played on EA SPORTS FC™ 24, began with online qualifiers in March 2024 and culminated in finals held in Germany during the summer, mirroring the timeline of the physical tournament.
