European Football Championship
Tickets, TV, test matches: questions and answers about the European Football Championship
National coach Julian Nagelsmann with the European Championship trophy at the group draw. photo
© Christian Charisius/dpa
There are less than three and a half months left until the home European Championships. Can I still buy tickets? When will the last European Championship participants be determined? The dpa answers these and other important questions about the tournament.
The groups have been drawn, most of the tickets have been allocated, the preparation is becoming more and more concrete: this Wednesday there are still 100 days until the opening game at the European Football Championship in Germany. Important questions and answers before the big home tournament from June 14th to July 14th:
Can I still buy tickets for the European Championship?
Most of the approximately 2.7 million tickets have been sold. Demand significantly exceeded supply. Another major sales phase is no longer planned. However, the European Football Union UEFA wants to offer a resale platform in March. There, people who have received a ticket but cannot or do not want to use it can sell their ticket. There are also some so-called hospitality packages with tickets, but these are probably out of the question for most fans in terms of price.
What is the German team doing until the European Championships?
On the way to the European Championships, the national team has two important test matches against top-class opponents on the program this month. These are the last games before the European Championship squad is nominated. They are eagerly awaited, and not just because of the planned return of 2014 world champion Toni Kroos. On March 23rd, national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team will play against France in Lyon, and three days later Germany will host the Netherlands in Frankfurt am Main.
After the end of the Bundesliga season, the DFB team will meet on May 26th for a multi-day training camp in Blankenhain, Thuringia. Two more test games are planned in direct preparation for the European Championships. The DFB has not yet named opponents or venues.
When will the last participants be determined?
The last three European Championship starting places will be awarded in three playoff finals on March 26th. Five days earlier, twelve teams are required to compete in the semi-finals. The winner of the Poland – Estonia game will play against the winner of Wales – Finland for a European Championship ticket. Israel, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ukraine will decide on another starting place. On the so-called Path C, Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece and Kazakhstan play for a place in the European Championship.
Who are the title favorites?
England and France are currently considered the top favorites for the European Championship title. The English team with Bayern striker Harry Kane and midfield star Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid confidently won the group without defeat in qualifying – including against Italy. France around Kylian Mbappé recently showed their class in almost all major tournaments, right up to the finals. In 2016, Les Bleus lost at home to Portugal in the European Championship final, in 2018 France became world champions and in 2022 they lost to Argentina in the World Cup final. Host Germany is already in third place on the EM favorites list for many bookmakers – ahead of Spain. Recently, however, the DFB team played anything but European champions.
Are there fan miles or public viewing events during the European Championship?
Yes. During the 2006 World Cup summer fairytale, pictures of celebrating fans at the public viewing and on the fan miles went around the world – that’s how it should be this time too. There are official UEFA fan zones in the ten venues where the games are shown on large screens. There will also be numerous other opportunities to follow the games in large groups. Under certain conditions, organizers need a license from UEFA to organize public viewings.
Who broadcasts the games on TV?
ARD and ZDF are showing 34 of the 51 European Championship games live on public television. This includes all of the German team’s games, the semi-finals and the final. The opening game Germany against Scotland can be seen on ZDF, the Nagelsmann team’s two other group games against Hungary and Switzerland can be seen on Erste. The two public broadcasters have acquired sublicenses from Telekom, which will broadcast all 51 games – including five matches exclusively – via its paid streaming service MagentaTV. A further twelve games can be seen on free TV on RTL.