The international football calendar is more condensed than ever due to delayed tournaments, which means the next Euros are already just around the corner. Germany is set to host the 2024 edition of UEFA’s flagship international tournament and is ready to welcome the rest of Europe.
Dates and Format
The draw to determine the respective groups for the main tournament will take place in December 2023. There will be 51 games, and the football will get underway on Friday, June 14, at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The group stage is set to run until Wednesday, June 26, with the knockout stage scheduled to begin on Saturday, June 29. Euro 2024 will last one month, with the final set to be held on Sunday, July 14, at the 70,000-capacity Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Competition Structure
There will be 24 countries competing at Euro 2024, including hosts Germany who will be looking for their fourth tournament win. The competition includes a round of 16 before the quarter-finals, with the top two teams from the six groups progressing. The four best third-placed teams will also form the last 16, and the knockout rounds will then
progress until the final. There will not be a third-place playoff at Euro 2024.
Venue Selection
This edition of UEFA’s premier international tournament will be held in Germany, and ten stadiums have been selected. Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park (BVB Stadion Dortmund), with a capacity of 66,000, will be one of the venues. Dortmund’s near neighbors Schalke will also see the Veltins Arena (Arena Auf Schalke) used. Although not many stadia are close to each other, Germany boasts a superb rail network that will make traveling to each ground easy.
Qualifying Process
Twenty teams from the ten groups will qualify automatically for the Euros. The top two sides from Group A to J will earn their place in Germany, while three other countries will be eligible via the playoffs.
Twelve countries competed in March 2024 in the playoffs, with those positions being decided by the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League. The group winners of Leagues A, B, and C all get an automatic playoff spot, but if they have already qualified, they will be replaced by the next best-ranked team in their league.
Germany’s Bid and Weather Conditions
Germany was awarded this edition of the Euros in 2018 after 17 members of the UEFA executive committee voted for the three-time winners over Turkey. The vote took place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, and this will be the first time they have hosted the event since 1988. Germany has top infrastructure, and minimal work will be required ahead of the tournament, which was the main reason Turkey lost out.
But Turkey’s poor human rights record was also considered, making Germany the apparent choice for UEFA’s flagship international competition. Weather in Germany in June and July is very similar to the UK, with Berlin’s average temperature over summer between 16C and 22C, so the weather shouldn’t be a problem for the players or fans.
Kick-off Times
Kick-off times for most matches have yet to be confirmed, but we know when the opening group game will start. Kick-off at the Allianz Arena is set for 9 pm CEST time, which would be 8 pm UK time. The semi-finals and final are also set to kick off at 8 pm in the UK.
Euro 2024 Tickets
When released, you can buy EURO 2024 tickets through the official UEFA website, as linked. This will also be the place to visit to find out all upcoming information about EURO 2024 tickets.
Release Date and Costs
Ticket information for the UEFA EURO 2024 competition is yet to be announced, but UEFA has assured that news will be provided in due course.
If you’re an England fan looking to get Euro 2024 tickets, the customary way will be that you’ll likely have to go through a ballot.
While German domestic football is known for being cost-friendly, this UEFA-controlled event is expected to have ticket prices over £100.
Fans who miss the official draws can also expect to get Euro 2024 tickets from trusted retailers.
Scotland Euro 2024 in jeopardy
Scotland’s armchair fans look set to avoid a blackout of the national team’s bid for Euro 2024 qualification despite Viaplay’s decision to pull out of all UK sports coverage.
Record Sport broke the news on Tuesday that SPFL bosses have already banked a cheque worth around £2.5m from the troubled broadcasters to pay for this season’s title sponsorship package of the League Cup. And we further revealed yesterday the Scandinavian TV firm will continue to screen the competition as planned, starting with this weekend’s group stage clash between Motherwell and Queens Park – despite announcing a major strategic shake-up yesterday following eye-watering losses of more than £24m.
Now we understand live coverage of Scotland’s march toward next summer’s finals in Germany should also avoid any disruption, even though Viaplay is now actively looking to get out of the British market. Scotland’s football authorities expect all live games to continue to be broadcast as scheduled, with all subscriptions still valid. At the same time, the Nordic company attempts to find a buyer or a partner for its output.
Should the UK wing of its operation be successfully sold off, then it’s understood that those games and subscriptions would be automatically transferred to the new owners – just as they were when Viaplay bought out Premier Sports 12 months ago.
That means coverage of this season’s Scottish Cup should also be unaffected, with the only anticipated disruption to the
One source close to the situation explained last night: “While this is a major strategic restructuring of Viaplay’s existing business model, it does not appear to be an insolvency event – as the fact that the SPFL has already been paid in full for this season’s League Cup would indicate.
“If they are looking to sell off their UK business as a going concern, any disruption to the current services would not only prejudice the sale but also torpedo the asking price.
For all those reasons, Scottish football can be relaxed about what’s going on even if the financial situation at Viaplay is far from ideal.
Early bird listings for Euro 2024 tickets and qualifiers are available.