2024 Euro Cup: A Comprehensive Guide
Germany played host to the 2024 Euro Cup, marking the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship. Chosen by the UEFA Executive Committee in 2018, Germany beat out Türkiye for the hosting rights. This tournament was significant as it was the first time a unified Germany hosted the competition, although West Germany hosted in 1988. The 2006 FIFA World Cup also took place in Germany.
The 2024 Euro Cup spanned from June 14th to July 14th, 2024. The group stage concluded on June 26th, with the knockout phase commencing on June 29th. As the host nation, Germany was automatically placed in Group A and played the opening match against Scotland in Munich, winning decisively 5-1. Germany has consistently participated in every European Championship since 1972, boasting victories in 1972, 1980, and 1996.
The final tournament draw, held in Hamburg on December 2nd, 2023, resulted in the following group configurations: Group A consisted of Germany, Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland; Group B featured Spain, Croatia, Italy, and Albania; Group C comprised Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, and England; Group D included Poland, Netherlands, Austria, and France; Group E was made up of Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine; and Group F consisted of Türkiye, Georgia, Portugal, and Czechia. Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia secured their spots through the play-offs.
The 2024 Euro Cup followed the same format as the 2020 tournament. The top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16.
Berlin’s iconic Olympiastadion hosted the final match on July 14th, 2024. Spain emerged victorious, defeating England 2-1 and securing their fourth Euro Cup title, a record-breaking achievement.
Ten venues across Germany were selected to host the matches, nine of which were previously used in the 2006 World Cup. The Düsseldorf Arena was the tenth venue. Notably, the Munich Football Arena hosted matches for the second consecutive European Championship, having also been a venue during Euro 2020. The host cities included Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart, each with stadiums boasting capacities ranging from 40,000 to 71,000.
The 2024 Euro Cup prioritized sustainability, implementing measures and investments to minimize environmental and social impact. A comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy was developed for the tournament.
Each host city featured dedicated fan zones equipped with public viewing screens, allowing supporters to gather and experience the matches together.
The official match ball for the 2024 Euro Cup was the “FUSSBALLLIEBE,” unveiled in November 2023. This ball incorporated adidas Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a European Championship.
The official mascot, a teddy bear named Albärt, was chosen through a vote by UEFA.com users and schoolchildren participating in the UEFA Football in Schools program.
Each host city appointed city ambassadors, including prominent figures from the world of football and beyond. These ambassadors represented their respective cities and promoted the tournament.
A volunteer program attracted over 146,000 applicants, with 16,000 individuals from 124 countries ultimately selected to assist with various aspects of the tournament.
The official song of the 2024 Euro Cup, “FIRE,” was a collaboration between Italian producers Meduza, American band OneRepublic, and German singer Leony.
The UEFA eEURO 2024, an esports tournament played on EA SPORTS FC™ 24, ran concurrently with the physical tournament, starting with online qualifiers in March 2024 and culminating in a final held in Germany.