Germany proudly hosted UEFA EURO 2024, marking the second time the nation has staged the prestigious European Championship. The decision was made at a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Nyon on September 27, 2018, where Germany’s bid surpassed Türkiye’s to secure the honor. While West Germany hosted EURO 1988, this tournament was the first time unified Germany welcomed the EUROs, adding to their history of hosting major football events like the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
EURO 2024 Dates: When Did the Tournament Take Place?
Football fans marked their calendars from June 14th to July 14th, 2024, for the EURO 2024 final tournament. The action-packed month kicked off on June 14th with the opening match and culminated in the final on July 14th. The group stage excitement ran until June 26th, setting the stage for the knockout rounds which commenced on June 29th.
As the host nation, Germany automatically qualified and was placed in Group A, position A1. They had the privilege of playing the tournament’s opening match at the Munich Football Arena on Friday, June 14th, securing a dominant 5-1 victory against Scotland. Germany boasts a rich EURO history, having participated in every edition since 1972. West Germany clinched victory in 1972 and 1980, and a unified Germany triumphed again at EURO ’96, making them a perennial contender.
EURO 2024 Groups and Qualified Teams
The draw for the EURO 2024 final tournament took place in Hamburg on December 2nd, 2023, dividing the qualified nations into six compelling 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
Teams marked with an asterisk () qualified through the play-offs, adding an extra layer of drama to their journey to EURO 2024.
EURO 2024 Tournament Format: A Familiar Structure
The tournament format mirrored the successful UEFA EURO 2020. The top two teams from each of the six groups advanced to the round of 16. They were joined by the four best third-placed teams, ensuring a competitive and thrilling knockout stage. This format provided opportunities for more nations to progress and heightened the stakes in every group match.
EURO 2024 Final Venue: Berlin’s Iconic Olympiastadion
The grand finale of EURO 2024 was held at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Sunday, July 14th, 2024. In a captivating match, Spain emerged victorious, defeating England 2-1 to secure their fourth EURO title. This win made Spain the first nation to achieve four European Championship victories, solidifying their place in EURO history.
EURO 2024 Host Cities and Stadiums: Across Germany
Ten world-class venues across Germany were selected to host EURO 2024 matches. Impressively, nine of these stadiums were also utilized during the 2006 World Cup, demonstrating Germany’s established football infrastructure. The Düsseldorf Arena was the additional venue, completing the list of host stadiums.
Notably, the Munich Football Arena had the unique distinction of hosting EURO matches for the second consecutive tournament, having been one of the eleven stadiums used for UEFA EURO 2020.
Here are the EURO 2024 host cities and their stadiums:
Berlin: Olympiastadion Berlin (Capacity: 71,000)
Cologne: Cologne Stadium (Capacity: 43,000)
Dortmund: BVB Stadion Dortmund (Capacity: 62,000)
Dusseldorf: Düsseldorf Arena (Capacity: 47,000)
Frankfurt: Frankfurt Arena (Capacity: 47,000)
Gelsenkirchen: Arena AufSchalke (Capacity: 50,000)
Hamburg: Volksparkstadion Hamburg (Capacity: 49,000)
Leipzig: Leipzig Stadium (Capacity: 40,000)
Munich: Munich Football Arena (Capacity: 66,000)
Stuttgart: Stuttgart Arena (Capacity: 51,000)
The ten UEFA EURO 2024 host cities
EURO 2024 Host Cities: A map showcasing the ten cities across Germany that hosted the UEFA European Championship matches.
EURO 2024 Sustainability Initiatives: A Greener Tournament
Reflecting the growing global emphasis on sustainability in sports, UEFA EURO 2024 implemented comprehensive environmental and social responsibility measures. The tournament aimed to set a benchmark for sustainability in football through targeted initiatives and investments. Details of the Environmental, Social and Governance strategy are available for those interested in learning more about UEFA’s commitment to a sustainable EURO 2024.
EURO 2024 Fan Zones: Celebrating Across Germany
Each host city created vibrant fan zones, providing public viewing areas and festive atmospheres for supporters. These fan zones became central hubs for fans to gather, watch matches together, and celebrate the spirit of EURO 2024.
Berlin
Berlin EURO 2024 Fan Zone: Fans enjoying the atmosphere at the Platz der Republik fan zone in Berlin during the Germany vs. Scotland match.
FUSSBALLLIEBE: The Official EURO 2024 Match Ball
The official match ball of UEFA EURO 2024 was named FUSSBALLLIEBE, which translates from German to “love of football.” Unveiled in November 2023 by UEFA and Adidas in Berlin, FUSSBALLLIEBE featured Adidas Connected Ball Technology for the first time in a EURO tournament. This technology provided enhanced data and insights into ball movement during matches.
Albärt: The EURO 2024 Mascot
Albärt, a charming teddy bear, was chosen as the official EURO 2024 mascot after a vote involving UEFA.com users and schoolchildren across Europe. Albärt secured 32% of the vote and was introduced to German fans in Gelsenkirchen in June 2023. Mascots like Albärt add a fun and engaging element to the tournament, particularly for younger fans.
Albärt, the official UEFA EURO 2024 mascot
EURO 2024 Mascot Albärt: Albärt, the teddy bear mascot, pictured during the UEFA EURO 2024 trophy tour in Stuttgart.
EURO 2024 City Ambassadors: Local Legends
Each host city appointed city ambassadors, comprised of football legends and local personalities. These ambassadors played a role in promoting the tournament and engaging with fans in their respective cities. The ambassadors included:
Berlin: Kevin-Prince Boateng
Cologne: Harald Schumacher
Dortmund: Roman Weidenfeller, Annike Krahn
Düsseldorf: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Sandra Mikolaschek, Selin Oruz
Frankfurt: Alex Meier, Deborah Levi
Gelsenkirchen: Gerald Asamoah
Hamburg: Patrick Esume
Leipzig: Professor Dr Jörg Junhold, Anja Mittag, Jürgen Zielinski
Munich: Dr Felix Brych
Stuttgart: Cacau, Niko Kappel, Eli Seitz
EURO 2024 Volunteer Programme: The Heart of the Tournament
An impressive 16,000 volunteers from 124 nations were selected from over 146,000 applicants to support EURO 2024. These volunteers played a crucial role in the tournament’s success, welcoming guests and embodying the tournament’s motto: ‘United by football. Vereint im Herzen Europas.’
There were 16,000 volunteers at EURO 2024
EURO 2024 Volunteers: A group photo of the 16,000 volunteers who contributed to the success of UEFA EURO 2024 across Germany.
FIRE: The Official EURO 2024 Song
“FIRE,” an energetic track by Italian producers Meduza, American band OneRepublic, and German singer Leony, served as the official EURO 2024 song. Released on streaming platforms, “FIRE” aimed to capture the passion and excitement of both football and music fans throughout the tournament.
eEURO 2024: Esports Engagement
UEFA eEURO 2024, an esports tournament featuring EA SPORTS FC™ 24, was also part of the EURO 2024 festivities. The online qualifiers began in March 2024, and the final took place in Germany, demonstrating EURO 2024’s reach into the world of esports and digital engagement.
In conclusion, EURO 2024 in Germany was a resounding success, showcasing top-tier football action across ten vibrant host cities. From sustainability initiatives to fan engagement and thrilling matches, EURO 2024 left a lasting impression on the world of football.
