Qualification for Euro 2024 is up and running and sports betting sites are already sharpening their odds on who will win the tournament. In case you don't know, Germany is the location of the 17th iteration of Europe's continental championships. And this will be the third time that Germany has hosted matches, but only the second time as sole host.
The event is scheduled to take place from 14th June to 14th July 2024, and will be the first time the event features an expanded 24 teams. Germany qualify as hosts, while teams finishing first and second in the ten qualifying groups will also qualify. The remaining spots will be decided by a play-off competition based on UEFA Nations League performance. The 24 teams will play their matches in ten venues around Germany, many of which will be well-known to football followers. Here we dive in to take a closer look at the grounds involved.
The largest international (but not club) football stadium in Germany is also one of the most famous arenas in Europe. Given its name for the 1936 Olympics that it was built for, the stadium is these days home to Bundesliga side Hertha BSC. It is also notable as the host venue for the 2006 World Cup final and the 2015 Champions League final. The Olympiastadion will host six games in total, including the final of Euro 2024, to be played on 14th July.
A stadium that needs little introduction, it's more commonly known as the Allianz Arena. Home to the mighty Bayern Munich, the stadium features some of the most prominent architecture of any ground anywhere in the world, and visiting fans will be in for a treat. As well as hosting one of the two semi-final matches, the Munich Football Arena also holds the distinction of hosting the opening match of the tournament on 14th June, which will feature hosts Germany.
Home to Borussia Dortmund and famed for its yellow wall in the south terrace, which also happens to be the largest standing terrace in European football. Although featuring all seats for international matches, the ground also known as the Westfalenstadion is notable for being the largest football stadium in Germany when featuring standing for club matches (the capacity reaches 81,365). The BVB Stadion will host one of the semi-finals at Euro 2024.
Home to VfB Stuttgart, the Stuttgart Arena is more commonly known as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, of course named after the local car manufacturer of the same name. As well as hosting group games, Stuttgart will host the first quarter-final game at Euro 2024, scheduled to be played on 5th July. As well as hosting games at the 1974 and 2006 World Cups, and the 1988 European Championships, this arena has hosted two European Cup finals, in 1959 and 1988.
The Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen is home to Bundesliga Side Schalke 04. This venue will host a Round of 16 game as well as group stage matches, and hosted a quarter-final at the World Cup in 2006. It is also notable as host of the 2004 Champions League final, won by Jose Mourinho's FC Porto.
The Frankfurt Arena is used to hosting noisy fans in the shape of those of home team Eintracht Frankfurt. This arena is notable for its retractable roof as well as for hosting the 2011 Women's World Cup Final.
Home to the popular Hamburger SV Club, who at the time of writing are still trying to climb out of the Bundesliga 2., the Volksparkstadion will host the third quarter-final at Euro 2024. An iconic venue, it has seen World Cups, European Championships, club finals, concerts and even heavyweight boxing bouts.
One of the newest stadiums on this list, the Dusseldorf Arena was only completed in 2004 and hosted its first international match in 2005. Overlooked as a venue for the 2006 World Cup, the Arena is notable as the home ground of 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf and as being a multi-functional venue that has hosted concerts, NFL Europe games, motor racing events and even the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.
Home of Bundesliga side FC Koln (that's Cologne to English-speaking audiences), the Cologne Stadium is notable in recent times for hosting the 2020 Europa League Final which, due to the pandemic, was played behind closed doors. The ground features terracing during club matches, but these are not allowed for international games. And for those fans interested, the north grandstand hosts a museum dedicated to the club that play their games there.
The first ever stadium based in the former East Germany to be used for European Championship game, the Leipzig Stadium will be better known to audiences as the Red Bull Arena. Home of Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, this is a stadium that has hosted plenty of big top-flight matches in Germany, as well as Champions league games. The stadium was also used for five matches during the 2006 World Cup. The stadium is noted for the surrounding greenery, so fans visiting matches can expect the sound of birds singing to accompany the usual football chants.
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
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