The men’s European Football Championship will take place from Friday, June 14, 2024 to Sunday, July 14, 2024. The event is taking place for the 17th time. It was last held in Germany in 1988. Back then, the Netherlands won the final against the Soviet Union.
A total of six games will be played in Munich. The FC Bayern arena in Fröttmaning will be called the “Munich Football Arena” for the occasion. There will be 67,000 places. What else you need to know about Munich as the venue:
Which games are taking place in Munich?
The first game is the opening game on Friday, June 14, 2024 Germany on Scotland meets. Kick-off is at 9 p.m.
There are also three more preliminary round games (on Monday, June 17, 2024, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, and on Tuesday, June 25, 2024).
In addition, a round of 16 will be played in Munich, namely one of the last two, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
A semi-final is also scheduled in Munich: the first on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Kick-off will take place at 9 p.m. In order for the German national team to reach this game, they have to come first in their Group A in the preliminary round.
All games at a glance:
- June 14, 2024, 9 p.m.: Germany – Scotland
- June 17, 2024: Romania – Playoff B
- June 20, 2024: Slovenia – Serbia
- June 25, 2024: Denmark – Serbia
- July 2, 2024: Round of 16 1E – 3A/B/C/D (AF7)
- July 9, 2024, 9 p.m.: Semifinals
How do you get tickets?
The first application phase is already over. In October of this year, 1.2 million tickets with as yet unknown team pairings went on sale. There were around 20 million applications for this. From Monday, December 4th, fans can also apply to the respective national associations, such as the German Football Association (DFB), for national team games. Information on how the associations allocate tickets, can be found on the official website of the European Football Union Uefa. Anyone who is not a member of the relevant association must register for their favorite team on the UEFA website before applying for a ticket is possible.
Tickets for any games in the knockout rounds from the round of 16 onwards will only go on sale after the group phase. For all tickets, interested parties can apply for a maximum of four tickets in one price category and for a maximum of one game per day. The tickets are only available digitally and personalized.
Will the Munich Arena be redesigned for the European Championships?
Yes. There will be seating only. In order to be able to meet the higher security standards and still guide fans into the arena quickly, a temporary security ring with 120 entrances will be set up on the esplanade in front of the arena. A tent for volunteers will be set up on the north bus parking lot, and an accreditation center will be built on the Equila Land site. In addition, the 5G mobile communications standard should be guaranteed everywhere in the arena until the EM.
What colors will the arena light up during the European Championships?
This has not yet been decided. There have already been light tests, but the final decision is still pending. 500 days before the opening game kicked off, UEFA published a simulation on its social media channels that showed the Munich arena in the colors of the nations that might be participating.
At the 2021 European Championship, which was partly played in Germany, Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) wanted to have the stadium lit up in rainbow colors during the DFB team’s game against Hungary as a signal against an anti-LGBTQ law by the Hungarian government. This had led to a controversy with UEFA, which banned the rainbow. Similar disputes appear possible this time too.
Will there be a fan festival?
Two days before the opening game, a celebration with 80,000 spectators and a concert by Ed Sheeran is planned on the Theresienwiese, but this has not yet been confirmed. What is certain: A fan zone will be set up in the Olympic Park. A 120 square meter screen will be erected on the Olympic Lake on which all European Championship games will be broadcast live. Additional screens will be set up at the Theatron (36 sqm) and on Hans-Jochen-Vogel-Platz (21 sqm). In addition, a show program will be offered on the stage in front of the grass steps at Lake Olympia. The fan zone opens daily from 1 p.m. Entry is free.
Which Munich residents play a key role in the event?
Philipp Lahm, a long-time FC Bayern player and 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, is managing director of DFB Euro GmbH, which is responsible for planning and organizing the European Championship.
DFB referee Felix Brych, who referees for SV Am Hart Munich, acts as the official city ambassador for Munich.
The German-Swiss former professional soccer and ice hockey player Kathrin “Ka” Lehmann was appointed as local ambassador.