A Summer of Euro Cups: Football Fever Grips Europe
Among the most prestigious sporting events in the world, the UEFA European Championship, commonly known as the Euro Cup, takes center stage. This quadrennial tournament, held in 2024 and often referred to as Euro 2024 or Euro 24, features 24 national teams competing for glory over a month. This 17th edition of the Euro Cup marks Georgia’s debut in the competition. Germany plays host this year, utilizing ten stadiums across the country, culminating in the final at Berlin’s iconic Olympiastadion, a venue steeped in history from the 1936 Summer Olympics and renovated in 2006 to accommodate over 76,000 spectators. This marks the third time Germany has hosted the prestigious tournament, having previously done so in 1988 (as West Germany) and 2006.
Germany and Spain lead the all-time Euro Cup victories with three wins each, followed by Italy and France with two each. Spain holds the unique distinction of achieving back-to-back triumphs in 2008 and 2012. While Italy clinched the championship in 2020 (played in 2021 due to the pandemic), their title defense ended in the Round of 16 this year against Switzerland. The 2020 tournament was uniquely held across eleven nations due to pandemic-related challenges, with the final taking place at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Following the exhilarating opening rounds and the Round of 16, the Euro 2024 tournament enters its final stages. Seven crucial matches remain: four quarter-finals, two semi-finals, and the championship match.
The quarter-finals promise intense competition, with Spain facing Germany in Stuttgart, Portugal taking on France in Hamburg, England clashing with Switzerland in Dusseldorf, and the Netherlands battling Türkiye in Berlin. The winners of these matches will progress to the semi-finals in Munich and Dortmund, ultimately leading to the grand finale in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on July 14th.
As the tournament progresses, England emerges as a slight favorite to win the coveted Euro Cup trophy, followed closely by Spain, France, and Germany. While Türkiye remains a longshot, the unpredictable nature of football ensures that anything is possible.
The global appeal of the Euro Cup extends far beyond Europe, captivating audiences worldwide. In the United States, comprehensive coverage of all matches is available on television and online platforms. Fox Sports (including Fox, FS1, and FS2) broadcasts the games in English, while Univision caters to Spanish-speaking viewers. For streaming options, Fubo offers a free trial for English coverage, complemented by the Fox Sports app and website. Spanish-language streaming is accessible through the TUDN app and website, as well as ViX.
Fox Sports secured a substantial six-year agreement with UEFA, the governing body of the Euro Cup, in November 2021. This deal grants Fox Sports the rights to broadcast over 1,500 soccer matches, including the 2024 and 2028 Euro Cups. The estimated value of this agreement reaches $270 million, highlighting the significant investment in broadcasting European football. The 2028 Euro Cup will be jointly hosted by the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Simultaneously, Fox Sports and TelevisaUnivision provide coverage of the 2024 Copa América, another prestigious soccer tournament. This 16-team competition, hosted by the United States, overlaps with the Euro Cup, creating a month-long “summer of soccer” with 78 international matches broadcast by Fox Sports.
Adding to the excitement, Fox Sports announced its plans to televise the 2025 Women’s Euro Cup, scheduled to take place in Switzerland. This 16-team tournament will further showcase the growing prominence of women’s football. The previous edition, the 2021 Women’s Euro Cup (delayed due to the pandemic), saw host nation England emerge victorious, with coverage in the U.S. provided by ESPN. The 2024 Euro Cup has witnessed record-breaking viewership, reaffirming the enduring popularity of live sports on linear television. Nielsen data reveals that the average audience for the Group Stage matches on Fox surpassed previous records, demonstrating a significant increase compared to the 2021 tournament. This ratings surge continued into the knockout Round of 16, with several matches achieving double-digit growth compared to their 2021 counterparts. Overall, viewership for the Euro Cup is tracking substantially higher than previous editions.
Fox anticipates strong ratings for the Euro Cup final, building on the impressive viewership figures from the 2021 final. With a favorable start time of 3 p.m. (ET), the network expects a large audience to tune in for the climactic match.
The summer of 2024 is a feast for soccer enthusiasts, with the Euro Cup, Copa América, and the upcoming Summer Olympics in France providing a continuous stream of high-stakes matches. The Olympics will feature 16 men’s soccer teams from across the globe, competing for the coveted gold medal. Coverage of the Olympic soccer tournament will be available on Peacock and NBCU networks.