Euro 2024: Schedule, format, groups, venues, favourites and more—all you need to know about this footballing fiesta

UEFA Euro 2024 tournament is set to kick off this Friday in Germany, marking the beginning of a month-long battle among Europe's football giants.

Germany, aiming to dethrone reigning champions Italy, will start their campaign against Scotland in Munich on the tournament's opening day—customary of the host nation.

Here's a comprehensive guide to Euro 2024 before the action begins.

Euro 2024 start and end dates

Euro 2024 kicks off on June 14 (June 15, 12:30 am IST).

Following the initial group stage, the knockout phase begins with the round of 16 matches scheduled from June 29 to July 2. Quarter-finals will be played on July 5 and July 6, with the semi-finals taking place on July 9 and July 10.

The tournament will culminate with the final match in Berlin on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

Euro 2024 venue details

Unlike Euro 2020, which spanned across various cities due to pandemic-related delays, Euro 2024 will be hosted entirely in Germany. Matches will be spread across 10 stadiums, ranging from Hamburg in the north to Munich in the south.

Euro 2024 competition format

Since the 2016 edition, Euro tournaments have expanded to include 24 teams. This format complicates the group stage qualification, with teams divided into six groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, joined by the four best third-placed teams.

Euro 2024 groups

Here are the groups for Euro 2024:

• Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
• Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
• Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
• Group D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France
• Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine
• Group F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic

Euro 2024 tournament favourites

France, the current top-ranked team in Europe and finalists in the last two World Cups, are widely considered the favourites to win the prestigious Henri Delaunay trophy.

Euro 2024 schedule

Where to watch Euro 2024?

In India, Euro 2024 matches will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on Sony LIV, ensuring fans can follow all the action from start to finish.

Stay tuned as Euro 2024 promises exhilarating football moments and intense competition among Europe's—and therefore the world’s—elite national teams.