UEFA EURO

UEFA European Championship Overview

The UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as the UEFA EURO or simply EURO, is one of the most prestigious international soccer (football) tournaments in the world. It is organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the governing body for soccer in Europe. The EURO is held every four years, with teams from European nations competing for the coveted title.

Before the tournament itself, there is a qualification process in which national teams compete in a series of matches to secure a place in the final tournament. Qualification matches are held over several months leading up to the championship.

The final tournament, which is the main event, typically features 24 national teams. These teams are divided into six groups of four teams each in the initial group stage. Each team plays a round-robin format within their group, with points awarded for wins and draws. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout stage.

The knockout stage consists of the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. Teams are eliminated in a single-elimination format, with the winners advancing to the next round until only two teams remain for the final match.