Euro 2024: What You Need to Know Before the Tournament Starts

If you love football, Euro 2024 is the event you’ll be talking about all summer. Hosted by Germany, the tournament brings together Europe’s best teams for a month of drama, goals and surprise moments. Below we break down the schedule, venues, ticket tricks and a few predictions so you can enjoy every match without missing a beat.

Key dates and venues

The opening game kicks off on June 14, 2024, in Berlin’s Olympiastadion, followed by matches across ten cities. The biggest stadiums are in Munich, Dortmund, Hamburg and Cologne, each holding between 40,000 and 70,000 fans. Group stage games run until June 30, then the knockout rounds take over with quarter‑finals on July 4‑5, semis on July 9, and the final on July 14 at Berlin.

Why does venue matter? Some teams play better on fast grass, others thrive in a charged atmosphere. Knowing which stadium hosts your favourite side can help you pick the best seats or decide where to set up a watch party.

How to get tickets and watch live

The official ticket portal opens in January. They release three batches: a fan‑club round, a general sale, and a last‑minute resale market. Your chances improve if you sign up early, follow the social feeds of your national team and keep an eye on the “ticket lottery” emails.

If you can’t snag a seat, streaming is easy. Most European broadcasters have online platforms that stream every match live – think BBC iPlayer in the UK, ARD/Das ZDF in Germany, and TF1 in France. Subscribing to a VPN lets you watch from anywhere, but make sure it’s a legal service.

Don’t forget the local bars and cafés. In many cities, pubs set up big screens and offer special deals on food and drinks during game nights. It’s a cheap way to feel the buzz without traveling.

Now that you know when and where, let’s talk teams. Traditional powerhouses like France, Spain, England and Italy are all back, but look out for dark horses. Turkey, Croatia and even Denmark have shown strong form in the qualifiers and could pull off a surprise.

One thing fans love is the group draw. Germany, as hosts, sit in Group A with Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland – a mix of defensive grit and attacking flair. The other groups blend veterans and newcomers, making every match feel like it could swing the whole tournament.

What should you expect on the pitch? Expect high‑tempo games, more use of VAR for offside checks, and coaches rotating squads to keep players fresh. That means you’ll see a variety of line‑ups and tactical battles that keep the analysis fun.

If you’re planning a trip, book accommodation early – cities like Munich fill up fast after the group stage. Public transport in Germany is reliable; a regional train can get you from Frankfurt to Dortmund in under two hours.

Finally, set up your own “Euro 2024 checklist”: tickets, streaming access, match schedule printed or saved on phone, snack plan, and a chat group for live reactions. With those basics covered, you’ll be ready to enjoy every goal, penalty shoot‑out and celebration.

Euro 2024 promises unforgettable moments, whether you watch from the stands in Berlin or from your couch with friends. Keep an eye on news updates, follow the hashtags #EURO2024, and get ready for a summer of pure football excitement.