Euro 2024 Format Explained | What Are the Changes

Euro 2024 is upon us and we are soon going to be watching the best nations of Europe compete against one another. But to get you started, I thought it would be a good idea to prepare yourself by explaining the Euro 2024 format and how things go in terms of qualifying.

The 2024 iteration of the European Championship will follow the same type of formula that the previous competition had. It will be the third time 24 nations are competing for the title of the European champion.

Where Is Euro 2024 Held?

To get the basics out of the way, the 2024 European Championship will be held in Germany. Germany act as Euro host for the second time, after Euro 1988 hosted by West Germany.

Germany was also the host of the 2006 World Cup. Since then, there have been no bigger tournaments held in the country. 10 different stadiums around the country act as hosts for all of the Euro 2024 fixtures. The famed Olympiastadion in Berlin acts as the venue of the final, set for 14. July 2024.

The Basics of the Euro 2024 Format

24 qualifying nations will be split apart into six groups with four teams within each one. After a single round-robin competition format within each group, the two best teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16 of the tournament. This leaves room for four more teams. We are going to be getting them from the third-best teams from each group.

Four added teams continue the competition out of six based on their ranking as third-best teams. The two worst teams finished the competition there and then. The elimination stage will, therefore, look like this.

• Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/D/E/F
• Winner Group F vs 3rd Group A/B/C
• Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D
• Winner Group C vs 3rd Group D/E/F

Basically, the winners of Group B, F, E, and C will have a seemingly easier opponent in the elimination part of the competition. They will play the third team from a certain group.

Euro 2024 Play-Offs

The way the qualifiers work allows three added spots for nations based on their Nations League standings. There are three paths available, for three additional teams. The outcomes of those qualifying tournaments will determine the rest of the teams that we need.

The qualifying Euro 2024 schedule involves the following games.

• Path A: Poland vs Wales – Estonia vs Finland
• Path B: Israel vs Bosnia & Herzegovina – Iceland vs Ukraine
• Path C: Georgia vs Greece – Luxembourg vs Kazakhstan

A single game determines the advancing team. Semifinal winners from each path form three different finals, with the winner of each final game qualifying for the tournament.