The summer sun isn’t the only thing hitting the pitch in Germany. Euro 2024 is returning to Deutschland.
24 teams. 10 host cities. 1 champion.
Here’s your guide to one of football's greatest championships.
Image Credit: Getty Images, vm. Image Location: Germany
The quadrennial football match is set for an electrifying summer showdown in the land of schlösser (castles).
⚽ What is the European football championship?
Euro 2024 is a tournament that is ranked behind the World Cup as one of the most prestigious international football tournaments. The European football championship is contested every four years between the member countries of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 2024 marks the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship.
📆 When is it?
The 2024 European football championship will begin on its first matchday, Friday June 14, and continue through the final on Sunday July 14, 2024, in Berlin.
🗺️ Where is it?
The championship will take place across 10 German cities. Here are the host stadiums and closest train stations to each so you can catch every match.
Berlin
Stadium: Olympiastadion Berlin
Closest stations: U Olympia-Stadion (Berlin) (U-bahn) | S Olympiastadion (Berlin) (S-bahn)
Guides: Berlin train station | Berlin East Side | Berlin on a budget
Cologne
Stadium: RheinEnergieSTADION
Closest station: Köln-Lövenich | Köln RheinEnergieSTADION (tram)
Guides: Trains to and from Köln Hbf | How to spend a weekend in Cologne
Dortmund
Stadium: BVB Stadion Dortmund
Closest stations: Dortmund Signal-Iduna-Park | Stadion (U-bahn)
Guide: Trains to and from Dortmund Hbf
Düsseldorf
Stadium: Merkur Spiel-Arena
Closest station: D-Merkur Spiel-Arena/Messe Nord (U-bahn)
Guide: Trains to and from Düsseldorf Hbf
Gelsenkirchen
Stadium: Arena AufSchalke (Veltins-Arena)
Closest stations: Gelsenkirchen-Buer Süd | Gelsenkirchen VELTINS-Arena (tram)
Guide: Trains to and from Gelsenkirchen Hbf
Frankfurt
Stadium: Waldstadion (Deutsche Bank Park)
Closest station: Frankfurt am Main Stadion
Guides: Frankfurt train station | Things to do in Frankfurt | Castles near Frankfurt
Hamburg
Stadium: Volksparkstadion
Closest station: Stellingen
Guide: Trains to and from Hamburg
Leipzig
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Closest station: Leipzig, Sportforum Ost (tram)
Guide: Trains to and from Leipzig Hbf
Munich
Stadium: Allianz Arena
Closest station: Fröttmaning (U-bahn)
Guides: Munich train station | Things to do in Munich
Stuttgart
Stadium: MHPArena
Closest stations: NeckarPark (Stadion) (U-bahn) | Neckarpark (S-bahn)
Guides: Stuttgart train station | Things to do in Stuttgart | Stuttgart travel inspiration
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alan Thornton.
🎟️ Where can I get tickets?
The UEFA ran a ticket lottery, and lucky winners received their tickets in January. The Resale Platform opened in March and there were several opportunities to try and buy remaining available tickets on sale by fans served on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, there will be more opportunities to snag tickets: UEFA is holding a last-minute sale of the tickets that were listed on the Resale Platform, which will be available from the beginning of May — so you can check for remaining available tickets for your game of choice on their website.
You don’t need a ticket to experience the UEFA Euro 2024. Each of the 10 host cities also host a free festival, with most featuring:
- Live screenings of all matches
- Fan zone
- Live entertainment
- Food and drinks
- Sports activities
Each city has their own special festivities as well, like poetry readings and eSports tournaments in Munich, and the world’s biggest fan pub in Berlin. These free, family-friendly events are the perfect way to experience the European football championship and its frenzied football culture.
🇪🇺 Which teams have qualified?
The qualifiers are:
Group A: Germany | Scotland | Hungary | Switzerland
Group B: Spain | Croatia | Italy | Albania
Group C: Slovenia | Denmark | Serbia | England
Group D: Netherlands | Austria | France | Poland
Group E: Belgium | Slovakia | Romania | Ukraine
Group F: Türkiye | Portugal | Czechia | Georgia
🆚 What are the first-round matches?
Here are the initial matchdays:
Group A Matchdays
June 14: Germany vs Scotland
June 15: Hungary vs Switzerland
June 19: Germany vs Hungary | Scotland vs Switzerland
June 23: Switzerland vs Germany | Scotland vs Hungary
Group B Matchdays
June 15: Spain vs Croatia | Italy vs Albania
June 19: Croatia vs Albania
June 20: Italy vs Spain
June 24: Albania vs Spain | Croatia vs Italy
Group C Matchdays
June 16: Slovenia vs Denmark | Serbia vs England
June 20: Serbia vs Slovenia | England vs Denmark
June 25: England vs Slovenia | Denmark vs Serbia
Group D Matchdays
June 16: Netherlands vs Poland
June 17: France vs Austria
June 21: Austria vs Poland | Netherlands vs France
June 25: Austria vs Netherlands | France vs Poland
Group E Matchdays
June 17: Romania vs Ukraine | Belgium vs Slovakia
June 21: Slovakia vs Ukraine
June 22: Belgium vs Romania
June 26: Slovakia vs Romania | Ukraine vs Belgium
Group F Matchdays
June 18: Türkiye vs Georgia | Portugal vs Czechia
June 22: Georgia vs Czechia | Türkiye vs Portugal
June 26: Georgia vs Portugal | Czechia vs Türkiye
🏆 Which team has the most UEFA Euro titles?
Germany and Spain are tied at three UEFA Euro titles each. France and Italy are hot on their heels with two titles, while the Netherlands, Czechia, Slovakia, Russia, Greece, Denmark, and Portugal each have one victory.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Lighthouse Films. Image Location: Santiago, Chile
🚆All of the action, one championship-worthy vacation
Summer is a great time to be a sports fan in Europe and you can experience all of the action in one championship-worthy vacation by train. Consider Trainline your personal coach and our app your peek inside the playbook.
Every hole. Every inning. Every leg. Every game, all by train.
Disclaimer: Trainline is not a sponsor of any of the sporting events or teams referenced in this article.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Maha1450. Image Location: Germany
