Germany successfully hosted EURO 2024, marking the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship. The decision to award Germany as the host nation 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 previously hosted EURO 1988, this tournament was the first time Germany staged the event since its reunification, adding a historical layer to the occasion. The nation’s strong footballing pedigree is further highlighted by its hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The EURO 2024 tournament unfolded from June 14 to July 14, 2024, captivating football fans globally for a month of high-octane action. The group stage matches ran until June 26, setting the stage for the knockout phase which commenced on June 29.
As the host country, Germany was automatically placed in Group A, designated to position A1. This ensured they played the tournament’s opening match at the Munich Football Arena on Friday, June 14, where they secured a dominant 5-1 victory against Scotland. Germany’s participation in EUROs is a consistent feature, with either Germany or West Germany competing in every edition since 1972. Their historical success includes West Germany’s victories in 1972 and 1980, and a further triumph for unified Germany at EURO ’96, showcasing their enduring legacy in the competition.
The final tournament draw, a highly anticipated event, took place in Hamburg on Saturday, December 2, 2023, organizing the qualified teams into their respective groups and building excitement 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 (*) qualified through the play-offs, adding an extra layer of drama to their journey to the final tournament.
The tournament format mirrored the successful structure of UEFA EURO 2020. From the group stage, 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 strong performances across all groups were rewarded and increasing the competitive intensity of the knockout stages.
Berlin’s iconic Olympiastadion was the venue for the EURO 2024 final, held on Sunday, July 14, 2024. In a thrilling match, Spain emerged victorious, defeating England 2-1. This win was particularly significant as it marked Spain’s fourth EURO title, making them the first nation to achieve this milestone in the tournament’s history.
Ten cities across Germany were selected to host EURO 2024 matches. Impressively, nine of these were also venues for the 2006 World Cup, demonstrating Germany’s established football infrastructure. Düsseldorf Arena was the additional venue, rounding out the selection of top-tier stadiums.
Munich Football Arena held the distinction of hosting EURO matches for the second consecutive tournament, having been one of the eleven stadiums used for UEFA EURO 2020. This continuity highlights the stadium’s quality and its importance in European football.
EURO 2024 Host Cities:
- Berlin: Olympiastadion Berlin (Capacity: 71,000) – Image of Olympiastadion Berlin, showcasing its architecture and preparation for EURO 2024.
- Cologne: Cologne Stadium (Capacity: 43,000) – Image of Cologne Stadium, highlighting its modern facilities.
- Dortmund: BVB Stadion Dortmund (Capacity: 62,000) – Image of BVB Stadion Dortmund, emphasizing its famous “Yellow Wall”.
- Dusseldorf: Düsseldorf Arena (Capacity: 47,000) – Image of Düsseldorf Arena, showing its unique design.
- Frankfurt: Frankfurt Arena (Capacity: 47,000) – Image of Frankfurt Arena, capturing the atmosphere during a match.
- Gelsenkirchen: Arena AufSchalke (Capacity: 50,000) – Image of Arena AufSchalke, displaying its retractable roof.
- Hamburg: Volksparkstadion Hamburg (Capacity: 49,000) – Image of Volksparkstadion Hamburg, set in its parkland surroundings.
- Leipzig: Leipzig Stadium (Capacity: 40,000) – Image of Leipzig Stadium, illustrating its city center location.
- Munich: Munich Football Arena (Capacity: 66,000) – Image of Munich Football Arena, Bayern Munich’s home ground.
- Stuttgart: Stuttgart Arena (Capacity: 51,000) – Image of Stuttgart Arena, presenting its updated features.
Aerial view of the ten EURO 2024 host cities in Germany, marked with stadium icons.
The EURO 2024 tournament also placed a strong emphasis on sustainability. Recognizing the growing societal expectations for sports to take environmental and social responsibility, UEFA EURO 2024 aimed to set a benchmark through dedicated sustainability measures and investments. Their comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy detailed these initiatives, aiming to minimize environmental impact and maximize positive social contributions.
Fan zones were an integral part of the EURO 2024 experience, with each host city creating dedicated areas for supporters. These fan zones provided public viewing of the matches, creating vibrant atmospheres for fans to gather and celebrate the tournament together.
A lively fan zone in Berlin, Germany, filled with football supporters watching a EURO 2024 match on a large screen.
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, FUSSBALLLIEBE incorporated adidas Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a EURO tournament, providing advanced data and insights during matches.
Albärt, a teddy bear, was chosen as the official EURO 2024 mascot after a vote involving UEFA.com users and schoolchildren across Europe. Albärt won 32% of the vote and was introduced to German fans in Gelsenkirchen in June 2023, becoming a visible and popular symbol of the tournament.
Albärt, the EURO 2024 mascot, a cheerful teddy bear holding a football and standing in front of the EURO trophy.
Each host city also appointed city ambassadors, prominent figures who represented and promoted their city during EURO 2024. These ambassadors included:
- 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 played a crucial role in the success of EURO 2024. An impressive 16,000 volunteers were selected from over 146,000 applicants to support the tournament across the ten host cities. These volunteers, representing 124 nations, were essential in welcoming guests and embodying the tournament’s motto: ‘United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas.’
A group of EURO 2024 volunteers in their uniforms, smiling and waving, showcasing the diversity and enthusiasm of the volunteer program.
The official EURO 2024 song, titled “FIRE,” was created by Italian producers Meduza, American band OneRepublic, and German singer Leony. Released on all streaming platforms, “FIRE” aimed to capture the energy and passion of football and music fans, blending anthemic house, pop-rock, and pop elements.
UEFA eEURO 2024, the esports version of the tournament, also took place. Qualifiers began online in March 2024, culminating in a final in Germany. EA SPORTS FC™ 24 served as the official platform for the eEURO 2024 competition, further engaging fans in the digital realm.
In conclusion, EURO 2024 in Germany was a resounding success, delivering thrilling football action, showcasing German hospitality, and setting new standards for sustainability and fan engagement. The tournament provided memorable moments for players and fans alike, reinforcing the unifying power of football across Europe and the globe.
