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 

The Open Championship

The Tour de France

The MLB in London. 

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

Why choose Trainline?