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SEThe Dusseldorf Arena in the stunning German city of Dusseldorf is gearing up to host 2024 European Championship matches this summer. This iconic venue will play an important role during the finals, hosting five matches. Known for its great atmosphere and impressive capacity, the Dusseldorf Arena will be a top host for this summer’s 2024 Euro Championship.
We take a look at the venue’s significance for the competition, its capacity for the finals, and the exciting matches it will host during this summer’s showpiece event. Fans are ready to immerse themselves in the football celebration as Europe’s elite national sides battle to be the champions of the continent.
Key Facts About the European Championships 2024 Arena in Dusseldorf
The stadium in Dusseldorf will be known as the Dusseldorf Arena in the 2024 European Championship due to sponsorship reasons. It is officially called the Merkur Spielarena, stylized as the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
In terms of the top football stadiums in Europe, this is a relatively new one. Construction at the Dusseldorf venue began in 2002 and took two years to complete. It opened with a 51,500 capacity, which was extended to 54,600 in 2010. Seats were converted into standing areas to accommodate more fans.
The Dusseldorf Arena is home to 2. Bundesliga club Fortuna Dusseldorf. They were founded in 1895 and moved into their new home in 2005. Fortuna won the German championship in 1933 and have been German Cup winners on two occasions.
The impressive arena has a retractable roof, which makes it an all-weather venue for various sports and concerts. It also has a state-of-the-art heating system, so it can host major events all year round.
There are a total of 27 executive suites, with eight event suites, and the stadium can hold up to 66,500 people for concerts. Building the magnificent stadium did not come cheap, with the final bill coming in at a whopping €240 million. JSK Architekten was the stadium’s architect.
The first international football match to take place at the ground was the friendly between Germany and Argentina in 2005. Over 52,000 watched an entertaining 2-2 draw.
In September 2022, the venue hosted an international match between USA and Japan. The Japanese scored in both halves to secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Stars and Stripes.
Although the new arena was not chosen as a host for the World Cup in 2006, the old Rheinstadion staged games at the World Cup in 1974 as well as the European Championships in 1988.
Six fixtures were played at the Rheinstadion in 1974, including two West Germany games. Both Group B matches during the World Cup drew crowds of over 67,000. At the Euro Championship in 1988, two fixtures were played in Dusseldorf. West Germany drew 1-1 with Italy in Group 1, and Netherlands beat England 3-1 in a Group 2 game.
Along with high-profile football matches, the new venue has also staged many huge music concerts over the past 20 years or so. Phil Collins and Genesis played in front of sell-out crowds, while The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen have also performed at the stadium.
NFL Europe games have been held at the venue, along with big boxing bouts. Vladimir Klitschko has had three fights in Dusseldorf, including the famous battle against Tyson Fury in 2015. The stadium will also stage the 2025 Summer World University Games, with the opening and closing ceremonies set to take place there.
Dusseldorf is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia and the second-largest city in the state behind Cologne. It is also the seventh-largest in Germany, with a population of over 650,000. While visiting Dusseldorf for the 2024 Euro Cup, fans can also take in the Rhine Tower, MedienHafen, and the River Rhine.
Seating Capacity at the Dusseldorf Arena
Over 50,000 spectators will be permitted during the 2024 European Championships. Although the capacity is higher for regular German league matches, there are almost 10,000 standing tickets sold. Standing is not allowed for international games.
The stadium’s official capacity for the 2024 Cup is 51,031, which is more than the Cologne Stadium and Leipzig Stadium. The Dusseldorf Arena will have the eighth-largest capacity during the finals, behind venues in Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, Stuttgart, Gelsenkirchen, Frankfurt, and Hamburg.
Boxing matches at the venue have drawn in huge crowds, and there were a staggering 53,586 in attendance for a handball game between Germany and Switzerland in January 2024, which is a world-record attendance for a handball fixture.
European Championship 2024 Matches to be Held in Dusseldorf
The Dusseldorf Arena will host three group matches during the Euro Cup in 2024. It will also stage one of the Round of 16 games as well as the fourth quarter-final tie.
The first match in Dusseldorf will take place in the first few days of the competition. France, who have been tipped by many to go all the way, will face Austria in a tasty Group D matchup on June 17th.
The French are looking to win the group, but they must get the better of Netherlands first. The Path A play-off winners, which could be Wales, will also be a part of Group D.
Four days later, Slovakia will take on the play-off B winners at the Dusseldorf Arena. The Slovakians have been drawn into a tough group with Belgium and Romania. As you would expect, the Belgians are the strong favourites to go through in first place, though the Romanians could push them hard.
The last group match to be held on Dusseldorf soil will be the Group B encounter between Albania and Spain on June 24th. With the Spaniards, Croatia, and Italy also in the group, the Albanians will have their work cut out in the so-called “Group of Death” in the 2024 European Championship.
Spain are the joint-record winners of this competition, with three wins to their name. Italy are the reigning champions after winning the 2020 edition. Croatia have reached the last two World Cup semi-finals and could be a dark horse in Germany. Those three will be battling for the top spot in Group B.
The Dusseldorf Arena will stage two knockout games during the tournament. On July 1st, the fifth Round of 16 game will be held at the stadium. The runners-up in Group D will face the second team in Group E. Holland, France, or Belgium could play a last-16 game in Dusseldorf.
The stadium will be used once more for the last quarter-final tie on July 6th. A 50,000+ crowd will be expected as the final semi-final team will be decided. If England win Group C and get past their opponents in the Round of 16, Gareth Southgate’s men will play their quarter-final at the Dusseldorf Arena.
In total, five exciting matches will be held in the city this summer. Some of the top teams will feature at the arena in the group stage, and the Round of 16 and quarter-final matches will both be special occasions.
Although the arena is not the biggest in the Euro Championships, the Dusseldorf venue is renowned for its atmosphere, and the fans will flock to the beautiful city in their masses to cheer their team on during the finals.
Betting on Football 2024 Matches at the Dusseldorf Arena with Unibet
Betting on the European Championship in 2024 could not be easier with Unibet. We have a comprehensive Euro betting market, including competitive odds on all five games taking place in Dusseldorf.
England will be hoping to line up in the Dusseldorf Arena in the quarter-finals on July 6th. First and foremost, the Three Lions need to win Group C for that to happen. Denmark will surely be their toughest opponents, but the English will fancy their chances of beating the Danes to the top spot.
Southgate’s men went close in the previous edition, missing out on the trophy after a gut-wrenching penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the final. The Three Lions have been World Cup winners but have never had the privilege of lifting the European trophy. Can the class of 2024 change that?
Germany will no doubt be a formidable force, as Julian Nagelsmann’s men look to make the most of home advantage. The Germans have reached six European finals, winning the cup three times. However, they have been in topsy-turvy form over the past few years.
France could be the team to beat in Germany this summer. Didier Deschamps’ side won the World Cup in 2018 and were runners-up in Qatar in 2022. Les Bleus have also been European champions twice.
Then we have the likes of Spain, Portugal, and Belgium, who are all capable of winning the tournament. Italy, the defending champions, cannot be ruled out, and several other nations are looking to spring a surprise in Germany.
The festival of football is just around the corner, and the supporters are getting their travel plans sorted for a packed summer of top-class action from Europe’s elite international competition. Dusseldorf will be a great host, and the Dusseldorf Arena is ready to stage several memorable moments this summer.
