Euros: Dates, schedule, fixtures, stadiums & teams

Played every four years, the Euros is held to decide the best footballing nation on the continent.

The event has gradually expanded to 24 teams and will next be co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland in 2028.

Spain are the reigning champions after beating England 2-1 in the 2024 final.

Euros dates

The Euros is usually played from mid-June to mid-July.

The 18th edition is no different, with the first game due to be played on Friday 9th June and the final held on Sunday 9th July.

Qualifying for the Euros is slightly different, with 12 groups of four or five teams and runs between March and November 2027.

The teams that top the pool will qualify directly, as will a select number of second-placed sides.

The second-placed teams who do not go straight through will compete in play-off matches also featuring sides who have come through the Nations League. These matches will take place in March 2028.

Euros teams

There will be 24 competing nations, the fourth time that format has been used since its introduction in time for the 2016 tournament in France.

Euros stadiums

The Euros are usually staged in several venues across the host nation or nations.

Organisers of the 2028 event have selected 10 venues across the UK and the Republic of Ireland:

• London - Wembley Stadium
• London - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Manchester - City of Manchester Stadium
• Liverpool - Everton Stadium
• Newcastle - St James' Park
• Birmingham - Villa Park
• Cardiff - Millennium Stadium
• Glasgow - Hampden Park
• Belfast - Casement Park
• Dublin - Aviva Stadium

Wembley, St James' Park and Villa Park were all used for games at Euro 96, while Wembley and Hampden Park were both used during the pan-European Euros in 2021.

Euros how to watch

UK viewers will be able to watch all of the action, with all 51 tournament fixtures set to be shown by BBC or ITV, with both broadcasters likely to show the final, as has been the case in recent competitions.

Euros format

The 24-team format was introduced for the 2016 tournament in France, having previously evolved from four, eight and 16-team formats.

As in 2016, 2020, and 2024, the 2028 Euros will feature 24 nations split into six four-team groups. The top two in each group will qualify for the last 16, as well as the four best third-place finishers.

It is then a straight knockout, with the round of 16 leading to quarter-finals, semi-finals and ultimately the final.

UEFA had been considering the prospect of a 32-team tournament from 2028 onwards, but those plans were reportedly scrapped at the beginning of 2023.

Euros schedule

The schedule for the finals will be announced when the draw for the finals is held in 2027.

Euros history

The Euros was first held in 1960 and was won by the Soviet Union. The four-team format used on that occasion was continued until the 1980 tournament when it was expanded to eight countries.

After four editions as an eight-team tournament, 16 teams played in 1996, before the 24-side format was introduced in time for France 2016.

Spain have won the tournament a record four times (1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024).

Germany are three-times winners (1972, 1980 and 1996), while Italy (1968 and 2020) and France (1984 and 2000) have both won the competition on two occasions.