Euro 2024: A Comprehensive Guide to the Tournament
Germany played host to Euro 2024, the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship. Selected by the UEFA Executive Committee in 2018, Germany beat out Türkiye for the honor of hosting the prestigious tournament. This marked the first time a unified Germany hosted the Euros, although West Germany held the tournament in 1988. Germany also hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
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 was automatically placed in Group A and played the opening match against Scotland in Munich, winning decisively 5-1. Germany boasts a consistent presence in every Euro tournament since 1972, with West Germany winning in 1972 and 1980, and a unified Germany claiming victory in 1996.
The final tournament draw took place in Hamburg on December 2nd, 2023, dividing the 24 qualified teams into six 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
- Group F: Türkiye, Georgia, Portugal, Czechia
Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia secured their spots through the 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 record fourth Euro title.
Ten venues across Germany hosted Euro 2024 matches, nine of which were previously used in the 2006 World Cup, with Düsseldorf Arena being the new addition. Notably, the Munich Football Arena hosted matches for the second consecutive European Championship.
The host cities and stadiums 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 prioritized sustainability, implementing various environmental and social measures. A comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy guided the tournament’s commitment to responsible practices.
Each host city featured dedicated fan zones with public viewing areas for supporters to enjoy the matches together.
A specially designed official match ball, named FUSSBALLLIEBE (German for “love of football”), was used throughout the tournament. Unveiled in November 2023, the ball incorporated adidas Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a Euro tournament.
The official mascot, a teddy bear named Albärt, was chosen through a vote by UEFA.com users and schoolchildren. Albärt made his first appearance in June 2023 during a Germany friendly match.
Each host city appointed city ambassadors, prominent figures from the world of sports and beyond, to represent their city during the tournament.
A volunteer program saw 16,000 individuals from 124 nations selected from over 146,000 applicants. These volunteers played a crucial role in ensuring a welcoming and inclusive tournament experience for all.
The official song, “FIRE,” was a collaboration between Italian producers Meduza, American band OneRepublic, and German singer Leony, capturing the energy and passion of the tournament.
UEFA eEURO 2024, the esports championship, ran alongside the main tournament, culminating in a final held in Germany. EA SPORTS FC™ 24 served as the official platform for the competition.