Euro 2024 Draw: Everything You Need to Know
The UEFA Euro 2024 final tournament draw, a pivotal moment for European football, took place on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023. The draw ceremony, held at the iconic Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany, commenced at 18:00 CET.
The Elbphilharmonie, one of ten Euro 2024 host cities, was a fitting venue for the draw. Hamburg will also host four group stage matches and a quarter-final during the tournament. This prestigious event determined the group stage matchups for the 24 qualified nations, setting the stage for intense competition and thrilling football action.
Elbphilharmonie during the Euro 2024 draw ceremony
Twenty teams secured their spots in the Euro 2024 tournament by finishing in the top two positions of their respective qualifying groups. Germany, as the host nation, qualified automatically. The remaining three berths will be decided through play-off matches scheduled for March 2024. These playoffs will feature twelve teams selected based on their performance in the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League.
The Euro 2024 Draw followed a specific procedure. Teams were divided into four pots based on their qualifying performance, with Pot 1 containing the highest-ranked teams. Germany, despite being in Pot 1, was automatically placed in Group A. The three playoff winners were assigned to Pot 4. Six additional pots (A-F) determined each team’s position within their respective groups.
The draw resulted in the following group stage configurations: Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland; Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania; Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England; Group D: Play-off Winner A, Netherlands, Austria, France; Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Play-off winner B; Group F: Türkiye, Play-off Winner C, Portugal, Czechia. These groupings promise exciting matches and fierce competition throughout the tournament.
The Euro 2024 draw was broadcast globally by various media outlets and streamed live on UEFA.com and the official UEFA Euro 2024 app, ensuring fans worldwide could witness this crucial event. The tournament will follow the same format as Euro 2020, with the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage. This format ensures a dynamic and competitive tournament, culminating in the final match to crown the European champion. From the round of 16 onward, the tournament transitions into a knockout format, culminating in the final match to determine the Euro 2024 champion.