Euro 2024, one of the most highly anticipated football tournaments, is just around the corner. With the opening match on June 14 and the final on July 14, fans all around the world are eagerly awaiting the start of the championship. But before the games begin, let’s take a closer look at how the finals draw will work and what teams will be competing for the ultimate glory.
The draw ceremony, a crucial event that determines the groups and fixtures of the tournament, will take place at 5 p.m. GMT, midday ET in Hamburg, Germany on Saturday, Dec. 2. The teams will be divided into four pots based on their qualifications and rankings. So far, 21 of the 24 finalists have been confirmed, leaving us with a few spots left to fill.
In Pot 1, we have the host country, Germany, as a tradition in such tournaments. Joining them are the top five group winners with the most points from the qualifying rounds. Pot 2 consists of the remaining group winners and the best runners-up, while Pot 3 includes the runners-up ranked 2 to 7. Pot 4 features the remaining three runners-up and the winners of each of the three playoff paths, which will be played in March.
The draw will begin with Pot 1, and it has already been decided that Germany will occupy position 1 in Group A, playing the opening game of the tournament. The rest of the teams from Pot 1 will be allocated to groups B to F, in alphabetical order. Each team will also be assigned a position within the group (1, 2, 3, or 4), which will define the order of the fixtures. For example, the first match will be between A1 (Germany) and A2.
After Pot 1, the same process will be followed for Pots 2, 3, and 4. The teams in each pot cannot face each other in the group stage, so the draw must ensure that the matches are fair and balanced. There are some prohibited pairings, such as Serbia and Spain, who have already qualified, and Bosnia and Ukraine, who will be participating in the playoffs.
While we already know the match dates for every fixture, the kickoff times have only been confirmed for the opening match, as well as the semifinals and the final. The UEFA administration will soon announce the standard kickoff times (15:00 CET, 18:00 CET, and 21:00 CET) for the remaining 47 matches and publish the finalized schedule after the draw.
As the countdown to Euro 2024 continues, fans and football enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting the finals draw. This event will not only shape the path each team will take in the tournament but also ignite speculation and discussion about potential matchups and rivalries. With each team determined to secure European glory, Euro 2024 promises to be a thrilling and fiercely competitive spectacle.
The Euro 2024 finals draw is a crucial milestone in the journey towards the championship. As the world watches with bated breath, the fate of each team will be decided, leading to highly anticipated matchups and exhilarating moments on the football field. With the stage almost set, football fans can now eagerly prepare for the start of Euro 2024.