Germany Euro 2024: A Comprehensive Review
Germany successfully hosted the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, marking the first time the country staged the championship since reunification. Chosen by the UEFA Executive Committee in 2018, Germany beat out Türkiye for the hosting rights. This was not Germany’s first major football tournament; they previously hosted the 1988 Euros (West Germany) and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The tournament took place from June 14th to July 14th, 2024.
The final tournament featured 24 qualified teams, including Germany as the host nation, automatically seeded into Group A. The group stage ran until June 26th, followed by the knockout stage commencing on June 29th. Germany opened the tournament with a resounding 5-1 victory against Scotland in Munich. The teams were divided into six groups following a draw held in Hamburg in December 2023. Spain ultimately triumphed over England in the final, winning 2-1 and securing their fourth EURO title.
The tournament utilized the same format as UEFA Euro 2020, with the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 16. The final match was held at Berlin’s iconic Olympiastadion on July 14th, 2024.
Ten venues across Germany hosted matches, nine of which were previously used in the 2006 World Cup, with Düsseldorf Arena as the tenth. Notably, the Munich Football Arena hosted matches for the second consecutive EURO tournament.
Ten German cities served as hosts: 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).
UEFA implemented a comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy for Euro 2024, aiming to set a benchmark for future tournaments in terms of sustainability.
Each host city featured dedicated fan zones equipped with public viewing facilities, ensuring an engaging experience for supporters throughout the tournament. Berlin’s fan zone, located at Platz der Republik, provided a central gathering point for fans.
adidas unveiled the official match ball, FUSSBALLLIEBE, incorporating Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a UEFA EURO. The ball’s name translates to “football love” in German.
The official mascot, a teddy bear named Albärt, was chosen through a vote by UEFA.com users and schoolchildren. Albärt was introduced to fans in Gelsenkirchen during a friendly match between Germany and Colombia.
Each host city appointed city ambassadors, prominent figures in German football and sports. These individuals represented their respective cities and promoted the tournament.
A volunteer program attracted over 146,000 applications, with 16,000 individuals from 124 nations ultimately selected. Volunteers played a crucial role in welcoming guests and ensuring a positive experience for attendees. Their contributions embodied the tournament’s motto: “United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas.”
The official song, “FIRE,” was a collaboration between Italian producers Meduza, American band OneRepublic, and German singer Leony. The song captured the energy and passion of the tournament.
The UEFA eEURO 2024, a virtual football tournament played on EA SPORTS FC™ 24, ran concurrently with the physical tournament, culminating in a final held in Germany.