Germany proudly hosted EURO 2024, marking the 17th edition of the prestigious UEFA European Championship. The decision to award Germany the hosting rights was made at a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Nyon on September 27, 2018. Turkey was the only other contender in the bidding process. While West Germany had previously hosted the 1988 edition, this tournament was the first time Germany had hosted the European Championship since its reunification. The nation also has a strong history of hosting major football events, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
When Did EURO 2024 Take Place?
Football fans worldwide marked their calendars for EURO 2024, which kicked off on June 14, 2024, and culminated in the final match on July 14, 2024. The group stage action ran until June 26, setting the stage for the knockout rounds which commenced on June 29.
As the host nation, Germany was automatically seeded into Group A, positioned at A1. This guaranteed they would play the tournament’s opening match – a thrilling 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 every EURO tournament since 1972. West Germany clinched victory in both 1972 and 1980, and a unified Germany again lifted the trophy at EURO ’96.
Which Teams Competed in EURO 2024?
The draw for the EURO 2024 final tournament took place in Hamburg on Saturday, December 2, 2023, building anticipation for the matches to come. 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 (*) earned their place through the play-offs.
What Was the Tournament Structure of EURO 2024?
EURO 2024 maintained the same successful format used in 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 exciting knockout stage.
Where Was the EURO 2024 Final Held?
The iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin was selected to host the EURO 2024 final on Sunday, July 14, 2024. In a thrilling match, Spain triumphed over England 2-1, securing their place in history as the first nation to win four EURO titles.
Which Cities Hosted EURO 2024 Matches?
Germany utilized ten world-class venues to stage the EURO 2024 matches. Impressively, nine of these stadiums were also used for the 2006 World Cup, demonstrating Germany’s established football infrastructure. The Düsseldorf Arena was the additional venue, completing the list of host cities.
Notably, the Munich Football Arena had the unique distinction of hosting EURO matches for the second consecutive tournament. This stadium, home to Bayern Munich, was among the 11 venues that hosted games during UEFA EURO 2020, highlighting its continued importance in European football.
EURO 2024: Host Cities
The EURO 2024 host cities and their stadiums were:
- 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
Sustainability at the Forefront of EURO 2024
Reflecting the growing global emphasis on environmental and social responsibility in sports, UEFA EURO 2024 prioritized sustainability. The tournament aimed to set a benchmark for future events through specific initiatives and investments. Detailed information about the environmental, social, and governance strategy is available in the full report.
Fan Zones: A Central Part of the EURO 2024 Experience
Each host city created dedicated fan zones, offering public viewing areas and a vibrant atmosphere for supporters to come together and celebrate EURO 2024. These zones became hubs of activity, enhancing the tournament experience for locals and visitors alike.
Fans celebrating in the Berlin Fan Zone at Platz der Republik in front of the Reichstag during EURO 2024
FUSSBALLLIEBE: The Official EURO 2024 Match Ball
FUSSBALLLIEBE, meaning “love of football” in German, was the official match ball of UEFA EURO 2024. Unveiled in November 2023 by UEFA and Adidas in Berlin, it was the first EURO match ball to feature adidas Connected Ball Technology, adding a layer of innovation to the games.
Albärt: EURO 2024’s Beloved Mascot
Albärt, a charming teddy bear, was chosen as the official tournament mascot through a vote involving UEFA.com users and schoolchildren across Europe. Winning 32% of the vote, Albärt became a visible and popular symbol of EURO 2024, first introduced to German fans in Gelsenkirchen in June 2023.
Albärt the teddy bear, official mascot for UEFA EURO 2024, on display during the trophy tour in Stuttgart
EURO 2024 City Ambassadors
Each host city appointed ambassadors, prominent figures with local connections, to represent and promote EURO 2024:
- 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
The EURO 2024 Volunteer Programme
An astounding 146,000 people applied to volunteer at EURO 2024, demonstrating the immense enthusiasm for the tournament. Ultimately, 16,000 volunteers from 124 countries were selected to support the event.
These volunteers, representing Germany in the ten host cities and stadiums, played a vital role in welcoming guests from around the world and embodying the tournament’s motto: ‘United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas.’
A group of EURO 2024 volunteers smiling and posing for a photo
“FIRE”: The Official EURO 2024 Song
“FIRE”, the official EURO 2024 song, was a collaboration between Italian producers Meduza, American pop-rock band OneRepublic, and German singer-songwriter Leony. Released on all streaming platforms, the song captured the energy and passion of football and music fans, blending anthemic house production with pop and rock elements.
eEURO 2024: Esports Integration
UEFA eEURO 2024 brought the excitement of EURO 2024 into the digital realm. The esports tournament, played on EA SPORTS FC™ 24, began with online qualifiers in March 2024 and culminated with the finals in Germany during the summer, further expanding the reach of the EURO 2024 brand.
