Euro Football 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
Germany played host to Euro Football 2024, 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 marked the first time a unified Germany hosted the tournament, although West Germany held the event in 1988. The 2006 FIFA World Cup also took place in Germany.
The tournament 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 automatically qualified and was placed in Group A, playing the opening match against Scotland in Munich, winning 5-1. Germany boasts a consistent presence in every EURO since 1972, with West Germany winning in 1972 and 1980, and unified Germany triumphing in 1996.
The final tournament draw, held in Hamburg in December 2023, resulted in the following groups: 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), and Group F (Türkiye, Georgia, Portugal, Czechia). Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia secured their spots through play-offs.
The tournament followed the same format as EURO 2020, with the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 16.
Berlin’s Olympiastadion hosted the final on July 14th, 2024, where Spain defeated England 2-1, securing their fourth EURO title and becoming the first nation to achieve this feat.
Ten venues across Germany hosted matches, nine of which were used in the 2006 World Cup, with Düsseldorf Arena being the addition. Notably, the Munich Football Arena hosted matches for the second consecutive EURO tournament. The host cities included Berlin (Olympiastadion Berlin), Cologne (Cologne Stadium), Dortmund (BVB Stadion Dortmund), Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Arena), Frankfurt (Frankfurt Arena), Gelsenkirchen (Arena AufSchalke), Hamburg (Volksparkstadion Hamburg), Leipzig (Leipzig Stadium), Munich (Munich Football Arena), and Stuttgart (Stuttgart Arena).
EURO 2024 implemented a comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy to address sustainability concerns and promote responsible practices throughout the tournament.
Each host city featured designated fan zones equipped with public viewing facilities for supporters to enjoy the matches together.
Berlin’s fan zone at Platz der Republik provided a vibrant atmosphere for Euro Football 2024 fans.
The official match ball, FUSSBALLLIEBE, meaning “love of football” in German, incorporated adidas Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a UEFA EURO.
Albärt, a teddy bear chosen through a vote by UEFA.com users and schoolchildren, served as the official mascot for Euro Football 2024.
Albärt, the official mascot for Euro Football 2024, made appearances throughout the tournament and related events.
Each host city appointed city ambassadors, including prominent figures like Kevin-Prince Boateng (Berlin), Harald Schumacher (Cologne), and Gerald Asamoah (Gelsenkirchen), to represent their respective cities during the tournament.
A volunteer program attracted over 146,000 applicants, with 16,000 individuals from 124 nations ultimately selected to assist in various roles during Euro Football 2024.
Volunteers played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of Euro Football 2024.
The official song, “FIRE,” was a collaboration between Meduza, OneRepublic, and Leony, capturing the energy and excitement of the tournament.
UEFA eEURO 2024, the official esports championship for the tournament, took place using EA SPORTS FC™ 24 as the platform, with online qualifiers starting in March 2024 and culminating in a final held in Germany.