Qualifying for the UEFA EURO 2024 is a comprehensive process that determines the 23 teams that will join host nation Germany in the final 24-team tournament. The journey to EURO 2024 is structured around qualifying group stages and play-offs, ensuring a competitive and exciting path to the finals.
EURO 2024 Qualifying Groups Explained
The EURO 2024 qualifying draw, held in Frankfurt on October 9, 2022, set the stage for the qualification process. With Germany automatically qualified as hosts and Russia suspended, the remaining 53 UEFA national teams were divided into ten groups. Seven of these groups consist of five teams, while the other three groups have six teams each. The primary objective in this phase is straightforward: the top two teams from each group automatically secure their places in the EURO 2024 final tournament.
Here’s a breakdown of the groups:
Group A: Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia, Cyprus
Group B: Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Gibraltar
Group C: Italy, England, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Malta
Group D: Croatia, Wales, Armenia, Türkiye, Latvia
Group E: Poland, Czechia, Albania, Faroe Islands, Moldova
Group F: Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Estonia
Group G: Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Lithuania
Group H: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, San Marino
Group I: Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus, Andorra
Group J: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Liechtenstein
The EURO 2024 Play-off Path
In addition to the 20 teams qualifying directly from the group stages, the remaining three spots for EURO 2024 are determined through a play-off system. This play-off path is linked to the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League performance. Twelve teams are selected for the play-offs based on their performance in the Nations League. Ideally, these would be the group winners from Leagues A, B, and C of the Nations League. However, if any of these group winners have already qualified for EURO 2024 through the standard qualifying groups, their play-off place is passed down to the next best-ranked team in their respective league that has not yet qualified. This cascading system ensures that the play-offs are contested by deserving teams. If a league doesn’t have enough non-qualified teams to fill its play-off slots, the selection process extends to the next league in the hierarchy, concluding with League D if necessary.
Key Dates for EURO 2024
The EURO 2024 qualifying process is spread across several matchdays:
Qualifying Match Dates:
- 23-25/03/2023: Matchday 1
- 26-28/03/2023: Matchday 2
- 16-17/06/2023: Matchday 3
- 19-20/06/2023: Matchday 4
- 07-09/09/2023: Matchday 5
- 10-12/09/2023: Matchday 6
- 12-14/10/2023: Matchday 7
- 15-17/10/2023: Matchday 8
- 16-18/11/2023: Matchday 9
- 19-21/11/2023: Matchday 10
Play-off Match Dates:
- 21/03/2024: Play-off semi-finals
- 26/03/2024: Play-off finals
Final Tournament Dates:
- 14/06/2024: UEFA EURO 2024 finals opener
- 14/07/2024: UEFA EURO 2024 final
Understanding the EURO 2024 qualifying structure clarifies the paths for nations to compete in this prestigious tournament. From the group stages to the play-offs, each phase is critical in determining the final lineup for EURO 2024 in Germany. While the focus is on securing a top-two finish in the groups or navigating the play-offs, every match contributes to the unfolding narrative of who will compete for the coveted EURO 2024 title.
