Join the excitement! Your complete guide to Euro 2024
The anticipation for the upcoming UEFA European Championship, Euro 2024, is palpably building as football enthusiasts eagerly await the grand spectacle set to unfold across Germany. This prestigious tournament, the first major men’s competition the country has hosted since the 2006 World Cup, promises to be a captivating celebration of the beautiful game, with teams from across the continent competing for the coveted trophy.
The Road to Euro 2024
The qualification process for Euro 2024 has already concluded, with 24 teams securing their spots in the final tournament. Among the notable qualifiers are reigning champions Italy, aiming to defend their title and become the second team in European Championship history to achieve back-to-back victories.
Joining them are perennial powerhouses such as Germany, England, France and Spain, all eager to add their names to the annals of European football history.
The Favourites and Dark Horses
England and France are the early favourites to lift the trophy. The host nation, Germany, is another favourite, while Spain and Belgium are also considered among the top contenders.
However, the tournament is renowned for its unpredictability, and teams like Scotland, Portugal and the Netherlands could emerge as dark horses, springing surprises along the way.
Key Omissions and Absences
While the tournament will feature many of Europe’s footballing giants, some notable absentees exist. Norway failed to qualify, as did Sweden, who will miss their first European Championship since 1996. The lack of these teams, along with the presence of several other talented squads, only adds to the intrigue and competitiveness of Euro 2024.
The Groups: A Closer Look
The draw for the Euro 2024 groups took place in Hamburg, Germany, on December 2, 2023, setting the stage for an intriguing group stage.
- Group A features the host nation Germany alongside Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland.
- Group B boasts a formidable lineup of Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania.
- England, Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia comprise the challenging Group C.
- Group D has France, Austria, the Netherlands and Poland.
- Group E sees Belgium, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine competing for a spot in the knockout rounds.
- Group F pits Portugal, Türkiye, Czechia and Georgia against one another.
EURO 2024 Host Cities and Venues
Euro 2024 will be played across ten state-of-the-art stadiums located in various cities throughout Germany. The tournament will kick off at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 14, 2024, and the final will be held at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14, 2024.
Other host cities include Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Stuttgart, each offering a unique footballing experience for fans and players alike.
- Berlin: Olympiastadion
- Cologne: Cologne Stadium
- Dortmund: BVB Stadion Dortmund
- Dusseldorf: Dusseldorf Arena
- Frankfurt: Frankfurt Arena
- Gelsenkirchen: Arena AufSchalke
- Hamburg: Volksparkstadion Hamburg
- Leipzig: Leipzig Stadium
- Munich: Munich Football Arena
- Stuttgart: Stuttgart Arena
Euro 2024 Tickets and Fan Engagement
Tickets for Euro 2024 were initially made available to the public through a lottery system and have been sold out largely. Fans of qualified nations can still be lucky. Yes, the info for tickets (last-minute sales) will be posted on the UEFA website. So, keep checking the tickets section on the Euro 2024 official website. And who knows, you might be lucky!
Tickets reserved for Knock-out Stage matches will be sold after June 23, 2024, after the teams have qualified. For details, visit the Euro 2024 tickets official portal.
In addition to the matches, the tournament promises to deliver an immersive fan experience. EURO 2024 fan zones and other engaging activations are planned across the host cities to create a vibrant atmosphere for supporters.
The official EURO 2024 song called Fire features MEDUZA, OneRepublic and Leony.
Broadcast and Media Coverage in the UAE
The Euro 2024 matches will be streamed globally. So, fans in the UAE can look forward to comprehensive coverage, including live streams, analysis and highlights, ensuring they can follow the action at every step. You can watch all matches live on BeIN Sports. There are exciting discount offers up for grabs. So, check out BeIN Sports’ official Instagram for details.
The Schedule, EURO 2024 Key Dates and Fixtures
The Euro 2024 journey will commence on June 14, 2024, with the opening match between Germany and Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The group stage will continue until June 26, after which the tournament will move into the knockout rounds, culminating in the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14, 2024.
The Group Stage: A Closer Look
The group stage promises to be captivating, with several mouthwatering matchups on the cards. In Group B, Spain and Italy will renew their long-standing rivalry, while England’s clash with Denmark in Group C will surely capture the imaginations of football fans worldwide. Group D features a compelling encounter between the Netherlands and France. At the same time, Belgium and Ukraine in Group E and Portugal’s meeting with Türkiye in Group F further intrigues the opening rounds.
The Knockout Stages: Pathway to Glory
Tension will only heighten as the tournament progresses, with the knockout rounds promising high-stakes, winner-take-all encounters. The Round of 16 will see the group winners and runners-up face off, with the four best third-place finishers advancing to this stage. The subsequent quarter-finals, semi-finals, and grand final in Berlin will determine the ultimate champion of Euro 2024.
Schedule And Format For Euro 2024
- The top two teams from each of the six groups will advance to the Round of 16.
- Four of the six third-place finishers from the groups will join these 12 teams.
- The third-place teams will be ranked in a table, and the top four will advance to the Round of 16.
- The tournament will then transition to a single elimination format, with one-leg matches – including the possibility of extra time and penalties – until two teams reach the final on July 14 in Berlin.
Euro 2024 fixtures in full
GROUP STAGE
- Friday, June 14
- Germany vs Scotland (Munich)
- Saturday, June 15
- Hungary vs Switzerland (Cologne)
- Spain vs Croatia (Berlin)
- Italy vs Albania (Dortmund)
- Sunday, June 16
- Poland vs Netherlands (Hamburg)
- Slovenia vs Denmark (Stuttgart)
- Serbia vs England (Gelsenkirchen)
- Monday, June 17
- Romania vs Ukraine (Munich)
- Belgium vs Slovakia (Frankfurt)
- Austria vs France (Dusseldorf)
- Tuesday, June 18
- Turkey vs Georgia (Dortmund)
- Portugal vs Czech Republic (Leipzig)
- Wednesday, June 19
- Croatia vs Albania (Hamburg)
- Germany vs Hungary (Stuttgart)
- Scotland vs Switzerland (Cologne)
- Thursday, June 20
- Slovenia vs Serbia (Munich)
- Denmark vs England (Frankfurt)
- Spain vs Italy (Gelsenkirchen)
- Friday, June 21
- Slovakia vs Ukraine (Dusseldorf)
- Poland vs Austria (Berlin)
- Netherlands vs France (Leipzig)
- Saturday, June 22
- Georgia vs Czech Republic (Hamburg)
- Turkey vs Portugal (Dortmund)
- Belgium vs Romania (Cologne)
- Sunday, June 23
- Switzerland vs Germany (Frankfurt)
- Scotland vs Hungary (Stuttgart)
- Monday, June 24
- Croatia vs Italy (Leipzig)
- Albania vs Spain (Dusseldorf)
- Tuesday, June 25
- Netherlands vs Austria (Berlin)
- France vs Poland (Dortmund)
- England vs Slovenia (Cologne)
- Denmark vs Serbia (Munich)
- Wednesday, June 26
- Slovakia vs Romania (Frankfurt)
- Ukraine vs Belgium (Stuttgart)
- Czech Republic vs Turkey (Hamburg)
- Georgia vs Portugal (Gelsenkirchen)
- June 27 and 28 – Rest
ROUND OF 16
- Saturday, June 29
- Match 37: 1A vs 2C (Dortmund)
- Match 38: 2A vs 2B (Berlin)
- Sunday, June 30
- Match 39: 1B vs 3A/D/E/F (Cologne)
- Match 40: 1C vs 3D/E/F (Gelsenkirchen)
- Monday, July 1
- Match 41: 1F vs 3A/B/C (Frankfurt)
- Match 42: 2D vs 2E (Düsseldorf)
- Tuesday, July 2
- Match 43: 1E vs 3A/B/C/D (Munich)
- Match 44: 1D vs 2F (Leipzig)
- Rest days on 3 and 4 July
QUARTERFINALS
- Friday, July 5
- Match 45: Winner Match 39 vs Winner Match 37 (Stuttgart)
- Match 46: Winner Match 41 vs Winner Match 42 (Hamburg)
- Saturday, July 6
- Match 47: Winner Match 43 vs Winner Match 44 (Berlin)
- Match 48: Winner Match 40 vs Winner Match 38 (Dusseldorf)
- Rest days on 7 and 8 July
SEMI-FINALS
- Tuesday, July 9
- Match 49: Winner Match 45 vs Winner Match 46 (Munich)
- Wednesday, July 10
- Match 50: Winner Match 47 vs Winner Match 48 (Dortmund)
- Rest days on July 11, 12 and 13
EURO 2024 FINAL
- Sunday, July 14
- Winner Match 49 vs Winner Match 50 (Berlin)
The Legacy of Euro 2024
Beyond the on-field action, Euro 2024 is poised to leave a lasting legacy, both for the host nation and the wider European football community.
The tournament’s commitment to sustainability, focusing on reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-friendly initiatives, sets a new benchmark for major sporting events.
Football fans were invited to participate in the EURO 2024 volunteer programme. Almost 16,000 volunteers were chosen during the application process, which closed on December 15, 2023.
FAQs about Euro 2024
Which emerging talents and established stars are part of Euro 2024?
Euro 2024 will showcase remarkable talent from established superstars and rising young prodigies. Fans will be eager to witness Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham in action as they look to cement their place among the game’s elite. Meanwhile, experienced veterans such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić and Harry Kane will aim to add one more major trophy to their illustrious careers.
What are the EURO 2024 key dates?
The tournament kicks off on June 14, and the final encounter will take place on July 14.
Here’s an overview of the tournament’s progress.
The tournament will start on June 14, 2024, and the opening game will be held at the Munich Football Arena (Allianz Arena). The Round of 16 will be played from June 29 to July 2, followed by the quarter-finals on July 5-6 and the semi-finals on July 9-10. The Euro 2024 final tournament will be held on July 14 at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
What is the mascot for Euro 2024?
For Euro 2024, hosted by Germany, the tournament will be represented by a new mascot named Albart. UEFA and the German Football Association chose this joyful teddy bear through a vote.
Where can I watch Euro 2024 in Dubai?
The countdown has begun and many popular sports bars and restaurants across the city have rolled out special deals and menus for the much-anticipated tournament. You can catch all Euro 2024 action live at Crafty Fox Gastropub & Sports Bar, Barasti Football Fanzone and other popular places to watch Euro 2024 in Dubai.
Where can I watch all the Euro 2024 matches in Abu Dhabi?
McGettigan’s, Lock, Stock and Barrel and C. Mondo are some top places to watch Euro 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
As the anticipation builds and the countdown to Euro 2024 continues, football fans across the world eagerly await the opportunity to witness the drama, the passion, and the sheer joy that this prestigious tournament will surely deliver. With a wealth of talent, a captivating schedule and a commitment to innovation and sustainability, Euro 2024 promises to be a truly unforgettable celebration of the beautiful game. If you love cricket, here’s how you can stream the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE.
To learn more about the top sports events in Dubai and the UAE, subscribe to MyBayut!
Featured image credit: UEFA Official Website.
