EURO 2024 Draw: Everything You Need to Know
The anticipation for EURO 2024 reached fever pitch as football fans worldwide tuned in for the final tournament draw. Held on Saturday, December 2nd, the draw ceremony commenced at 18:00 CET, setting the stage for the highly anticipated tournament.
The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany, a city proudly hosting EURO 2024 matches, served as the elegant venue for the draw. Hamburg is slated to host four crucial group stage games and a quarter-final, adding to the excitement surrounding the city’s involvement in the tournament.
The draw meticulously divided the qualified teams into six compelling groups:
EURO 2024 Group Stage Draw Results:
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. Hosts Germany secured automatic qualification. An additional 20 teams earned their places by finishing in the top two of each of the ten European Qualifiers groups. The final three spots are yet to be decided through play-off matches scheduled for March 2024.
These play-off berths will be contested by twelve teams based on their performance in the 2022/23 Nations League. The play-off format consists of six semi-finals on March 21st, followed by three finals on March 26th. The victorious teams from these finals will complete the 24-nation line-up for EURO 2024, adding a final layer of drama and competition to the qualification process.
To ensure fairness and balance, teams were pre-assigned to four pots (Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 3, and Pot 4) based on their performance in the qualifying group stage. Germany, as hosts, were automatically placed in Pot 1 and assigned to Group A, position A1, without being drawn. The three play-off winners were placed in Pot 4.
Further pots (Pots A, B, C, D, E, F) were used to determine each team’s specific position within their assigned group. Pots B through F each contained four balls representing positions 1 to 4 in each group. Pot A contained only three balls (A2, A3, A4) as Germany already occupied position A1. This detailed procedure ensured a structured and equitable draw process for the EURO 2024 finals.
For fans eager to witness the draw live, it was broadcast by a wide range of broadcasters. Additionally, the draw was streamed live on UEFA.com and via the official UEFA EURO 2024 app, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.
The EURO 2024 tournament format will mirror the successful structure of EURO 2020. The top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16. From there, the competition intensifies with knockout rounds, including the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and culminating in the highly anticipated final match. Football enthusiasts can look forward to a thrilling and competitive EURO 2024 tournament following this exciting draw.