Panoramic photo of Düsseldorf at night with the Ergo Tower in the background, Rhine embankment promenade and Ferris wheel.

Düsseldorf in soccer fever: We are looking forward to the UEFA EURO 2024

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The kick-off: The final draw for UEFA EURO 2024

In the state capital of Düsseldorf, anticipation for UEFA EURO 2024 is growing daily. On December 2, the draw for the match schedule of the major event took place in Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie. The Visit Düsseldorf team has also been eagerly awaiting the event for weeks. And we finally know which national teams we will be welcoming to the state capital in summer 2024.

The draw: a moment of tense anticipation

It's time for the final draw for UEFA EURO 2024 and our Visit Düsseldorf team is watching the broadcast from the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg over pizza and Altbier in the Merkur Spiel-Arena. And of course everyone is excited to see which teams will be playing in Düsseldorf. The room is filled with anticipation when the first national team is announced: Spain. They follow one after the other: France, Austria, Albania and Slovakia. But that's not all: Iceland - and thus Fortuna Düsseldorf fan favorite Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson - could also be there via the playoffs. Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine will compete to win Group B of the play-offs. We will find out who it will be on March 26, 2024, when the three playoff finals take place.

Stage in the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, bathed in red and yellow because Spain was drawn by lot.
(Photo: Getty Images by UEFA)

Guests in Düsseldorf: The teams

A soccer festival in a class of its own - this is how Düsseldorf looks forward to UEFA EURO 2024, a magnet for fans from all over Europe. Our motto: Everybody's home game. For a high feel-good factor, Düsseldorf offers a EURO 2024 festival of music, culture and, of course, soccer, soccer, soccer.

Spain - The passionate tacticians
The Spanish national team, known for its tactical finesse, has qualified for UEFA EURO 2024 as group winners. La Roja is always a favorite on the pitch and is guaranteed to provide spirited excitement in the Arena Düsseldorf. And you might even see soccer legend Raúl again. The Spaniard and former Real Madrid superstar played for Schalke 04 for two years and lived in Düsseldorf. He was a regular customer at the Serafino Palatini ice cream parlor. But even if the former Schalke player doesn't end up in Düsseldorf, the "Olé, Olé" battle cries will echo through the streets of the city.

France - The artistic strategists
The Équipe Tricolore is ready to impress Düsseldorf with its artistic style of play. After all, the French also came through the qualifiers for EURO 2024 as group winners. Fortuna defender Nicolas Gavory in particular is likely to be delighted with the visit from his home country to Düsseldorf. The geographical proximity will ensure that a particularly large number of French fans will come and immerse Düsseldorf in blue, white and red. After all, they are known for lending their savoir vivre to soccer. Alongside the Spanish, the team is one of the absolute top favorites for the title. With this in mind: "Allez les Bleus!"

The UEFA EURO 2024 trophy
The object of desire: The trophy. (Photo: Getty Images by UEFA)

Albania - The surprise team
Albania, the Balkan peninsula with a great passion for soccer, surprised everyone by winning their group in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2024 and will be taking part in the European Championship for the second time. Fun fact: From 2002 to 2006, Hans-Peter Briegel was coach of the national team and ensured some spectacular victories that earned him cult status. Many fans were completely enraptured and baptized their newborns with the name Briegel. Die-hard Fortuna fans may also remember the Albanian footballer in the state capital - Igli Tare. The striker was on the scoresheet for Fortuna from 1997 to 1999, scoring 24 goals in 63 second division matches.

Austria - The up-and-coming team
Austria, which was eliminated in the round of 16 at UEFA EURO 2021, has qualified for UEFA EURO 2024 as group runners-up. They recently won a friendly match against the German national team and impressed on the pitch. Benjamin Böckle, an Austrian, is still under contract with Fortuna Düsseldorf. The 21-year-old left-back is currently on loan to Preußen Münster and will return to Düsseldorf in the summer. The team could be one of the big surprises of the tournament. We will see how far the Austrian fans get with their team.

The mascot enters the stage.
Mascot Albärt starts his #bewegtEuch mission, which takes him to schools all over Europe. (Photo: Getty Images by UEFA)

Slovakia - the qualification specialists
The Slovakian national team will have to do without Marek Hamšík and his legendary mohawk. Slovakia, who qualified for UEFA EURO 2024 as group runners-up, will bring an exciting mix of soccer passion and tradition to Düsseldorf. Although the small European country is considered more of a sporting underdog, their fans will be passionately supporting them. Italian coach Francesco Calzona also brings Italian temperament to the team and will be looking to spring a surprise at the European Championships.

Tip for the EURO 2024 Festival: Visit the Fan Zones in Düsseldorf to enjoy the unique atmosphere and hospitality of the city. Meet fans from all over Europe, enjoy the cultural program and watch the games together!
More information about the EURO 2024 Festival in Düsseldorf at visitduesseldorf.de.

Text: Tim Schoster
Lead photo: Visit Düsseldorf
A sign of anticipation and hospitality: in a cooperation between the state capital and the insurance company Ergo, official national partner of UEFA EURO 2024, the results of the draw were broadcast directly to the Ergo Tower. The lighting could be seen perfectly from the banks of the Rhine near the Tonhalle and from the Oberkassel Bridge.

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