Skip to content

Germany edges Turkey to host Euro 2024

JOHANNES EISELE / AFP / Getty

Germany has officially been named the host country for Euro 2024, beating out a bid from Turkey for the honor.

Germany hasn't hosted a major international football tournament since the 2006 World Cup. The country has only hosted the European Championships once in the competition's history, doing so in 1988 (then as West Germany), when it fell 2-1 to eventual winner the Netherlands in the semi-finals.

"I would like to thank the UEFA Executive Commitee for the unbelievable trust," German FA President Reinhard Grindel said, via international broadcaster Deutsche Welle. "I feel a sense of responsibility. We know what this tournament means.

"We will do everything in our power to live up to the expectations."

Turkey and Germany were the only associations to put forth a formal bid before the deadline in March 2017, with the former hoping to host its first international tournament ever.

UEFA released an encompassing evaluation report detailing both bids on Sept. 21. In the study, Europe's governing body deemed the amount of work needed to enhance Turkey's transport infrastructure as a risk, citing a "dependence on a few airports for international and domestic travel." It also labels the country's "lack of an action plan in the area of human rights" as a concern.

Germany's bid, meanwhile, fully satisfies mobility requirements and "comfortably meets overall expectations when it comes to political aspects, social responsibility, sustainability and human rights."

Portugal is the current reigning European champion after defeating France in the 2016 final in Saint-Denis, just north of central Paris. The Selecao will attempt to defend its continental crown at a special edition of the competition in 2020, which will be hosted in 12 cities and 12 different countries across Europe. The semi-finals and final will be held in England at London's Wembley Stadium.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox