Germany to Host UEFA Euro 2024

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced that Germany will be the host nation for the 2024 European Championship. The decision was made public today, confirming Germany as the chosen venue over fellow bidder Turkey.

UEFA stated that for the first time in the 2024 candidacy process, the evaluation of candidate countries included a criterion focusing on “respect for human rights”.

While acknowledging positive aspects within Turkey’s application, UEFA’s evaluation report expressed concerns regarding the “lack of a concrete action plan in the area of human rights”.

Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher at Amnesty International, speaking to AFP, suggested that hosting the European Championship could positively influence human rights in Turkey, drawing parallels to Russia’s experience during the World Cup. He noted that while Russia hosted the World Cup, human rights issues remained in the global spotlight. Gardner emphasized that UEFA should still caution Turkey about the “unacceptable current situation” regarding human rights.

Jean Marcou, from the French Institute for Anatolian Research, also pointed to the Russian example, reminding that a country’s human rights record has not been a prerequisite in previous host selections. Marcou told the agency that expecting a model democracy to host a sporting organization is unrealistic.

Germany’s bid team, led by Markus Stenger, centered their campaign around the slogan “United by Football.” Stenger stated, “We want to show the whole world and Europe that no matter where you come from, we can all enjoy this together.” This campaign aimed to highlight the unifying power of football and Germany’s commitment to hosting a welcoming and inclusive tournament for Euro 2024.

In the lead up to the decision, Germany had been dealing with discussions around racism in football, particularly following Mesut Özil’s accusations. Özil faced criticism in Germany after being photographed with President Erdoğan before the World Cup. The criticism intensified after Germany’s World Cup performance, leading Özil to declare he had experienced racism and subsequently retire from the national team. Despite this backdrop, Germany successfully secured the bid to host Euro 2024, promising a tournament focused on unity and the spirit of football.