Overview of the Euro 2024 Qualifying Stage
The European Football Championship, commonly known as the Euros, is one of the premier international football tournaments that ignites passion and excitement among fans around the globe. The road to Euro 2024 begins with the qualifying stage, a highly competitive series of matches that determine which national teams will earn the right to compete in the final tournament in Germany. This stage is not just a prelude but a critical part of the journey, laden with strategy, skill, and determination.
Structure of the Qualifying Stage
For Euro 2024, the qualifying stage is structured to ensure a fair and engaging competition. A total of 55 UEFA member national teams are drawn into 10 qualifying groups: seven groups of five teams and three groups of six teams. These groups are designed to balance competitiveness while offering every team a chance to vie for a place in the final tournament.
Each team within a group plays the others in a double round-robin format—home and away matches—adding up to an array of 10 matches for teams in groups of six and eight matches for teams in groups of five. The points system adheres to the standard format: