EURO 2024 Draw: Key Details and What to Expect
The highly anticipated UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament draw took place on Saturday, December 2nd, marking a significant milestone in the lead-up to the prestigious football event. Football fans across the globe eagerly awaited the results of the draw ceremony, which commenced at 18:00 CET, to discover the group stage matchups for EURO 2024.
The draw unfolded at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany, a city proudly hosting EURO 2024 matches. Hamburg is set to be a vibrant hub during the tournament, staging four crucial group games and a high-stakes quarter-final clash. This selection underscores Hamburg’s importance as one of the ten host cities contributing to the overall excitement of EURO 2024.
The EURO 2024 group stage draw revealed compelling groups, setting the stage for thrilling encounters:
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
Qualification for the EURO 2024 draw was achieved through different paths. Tournament hosts Germany secured their place automatically, while an additional twenty teams earned their spots by finishing in the top two of each of the ten European Qualifiers groups. These qualifiers showcased intense competition and determined the majority of the teams participating in the final draw.
The remaining three coveted berths for EURO 2024 will be decided through play-offs scheduled for March 2024. Twelve teams will compete in these play-offs, their participation determined by their performance in the 2022/23 Nations League. The play-off format includes six semi-finals on March 21st, followed by three finals on March 26th. The victorious teams from these finals will complete the 24-team line-up for the EURO 2024 final tournament, adding a final layer of anticipation and drama to the qualification process.
To ensure fairness and excitement, the EURO 2024 draw followed a structured procedure. Teams were pre-assigned to four pots (Pot 1, 2, 3, 4) based on their performance in the qualifying group stage. Host nation Germany was placed in Pot 1 but was automatically assigned to Group A, position A1, and therefore was not part of the drawing process itself. The eventual play-off winners were allocated to Pot 4, acknowledging their later qualification.
Furthermore, six additional pots (A, B, C, D, E, F) were utilized to determine each team’s specific position within their drawn group. Pots B to F each contained four balls representing positions 1 to 4 within their respective groups. Pot A differed slightly, containing only three balls for positions A2, A3, and A4, as Germany already occupied position A1. This meticulous draw procedure ensured a balanced and engaging group stage for EURO 2024, maximizing the competitive spirit of the tournament.
For fans who wished to witness the EURO 2024 draw live, a comprehensive list of broadcasters was made available, ensuring widespread access to the event. The draw was also streamed in real-time on UEFA.com and via the official UEFA EURO 2024 app, providing digital platforms for viewers to follow the proceedings as they unfolded.
The EURO 2024 final tournament format will mirror the successful structure of UEFA EURO 2020. The top two teams from each of the six final tournament groups will advance to the round of 16. They will be joined by the four best third-placed finishers from across all groups, creating a dynamic and competitive knockout stage. From the round of 16 onwards, the tournament progresses through traditional knockout rounds, including quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final match. This format ensures that only the most consistent and high-performing teams will contend for the coveted EURO 2024 title.