The executive committee of the European football governing body, UEFA, has agreed on the new structure of the rescheduled Euro 2020 inter-country football competition. The competition which holds once in every four years was earlier scheduled to take place this summer but it has to be rescheduled for 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Unlike the usual structure, the competition will be held in 12 different cities across Europe to mark the 60th anniversary of the European competition. The last edition which was the 15th edition was won by Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal in 2016.
Also unlike the previous edition, this 16th edition will see all the host countries compete for a slot in the qualifiers and the playoffs. The competition proper will commence from June 11 to July 11, 2021.
Though over 50 countries have been trying to get a place on the tournament long before the coronavirus pandemic halted football, the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament has room for just 24 teams including the host countries.
The tournament will kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on June 11, 2021, and ends at the prestigious Wembley Stadium in London, England, on July 11, 2021.
England, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Croatia, Wales, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Austria, France, Turkey, Belgium, Russia, Italy, and Finland, are already qualified for Euro 2020.
Before the rescheduled Euro 2020 starts, play-offs have to be played in October and November 2020. The play-offs will produce four teams that will join other 20 teams that have/will qualify automatically from 10 groups. The first two teams from the ten groups make up the 20 teams that will be joined by the teams that will win the playoffs.
Euro 2020: Here is the schedule for the playoffs:
Thursday, October 8
Path A: Iceland vs Romania
Path A: Bulgaria vs Hungaria
Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Northern Ireland
Path B: Slovakia vs Rep of Ireland
Path C: Scotland vs Israel
Path C: Norway vs Serbia
Path D: Georgia vs Belarus
Path D: North Macedonia vs Kosovo
Thursday, November 12
Path A: Bulgaria or Hungary vs Iceland or Romania
Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina or Northern Ireland vs Slovakia or Rep of Ireland
Path C: Norway or Serbia vs Scotland or Israel
Path D: Georgia or Belarus vs North Macedonia or Kosovo
Euro 2020: Here are the 12 venues of all the matches:
Amsterdam (Netherlands) – Johan Cruyff Arena
Baku (Azerbaijan) – Olympic Stadium
Bilbao (Spain) – San Mames
Bucharest (Romania) – Arena National
Budapest (Hungary) – Puskas Arena
Copenhagen (Denmark) – Parken Stadium
Dublin (Republic of Ireland) – Aviva Stadium
Glasgow (Scotland) – Hampden Park
London (England) – Wembley Stadium
Munich (Germany) – Allianz Arena
Rome (Italy) – Stadio Olimpico
Saint Petersburg (Russia) – Krestovsky Stadium
Euro 2020: Here is the pairing of the cities for the Group stages:
Group A: Rome and Baku
Group B: Saint Petersburg and Copenhagen
Group C: Amsterdam and Bucharest
Group D: London and Glasgow
Group E: Bilbao and Dublin
Group F: Munich and Budapest
Every host nation that qualifies will play a minimum of two games at home in the group stages. Should both paired nations qualify (eg. if England and Scotland both qualify they will be put into Group D) then a draw will take place to determine which nation will host their direct group-stage encounter.
The winners and runners-up of each group will reach the knockout stages, as well as the four best third-placed teams.
Euro 2020: Here is the Schedule for the Group stage
Friday, June 11
Group A: Turkey vs Italy; Kick-off 8 pm (Rome)
Saturday, June 12
Group A: Wales vs Switzerland; Kick-off 2 pm (Baku)
Group B: Denmark vs Finland; Kick-off 5 pm (Copenhagen)
Group B: Belgium vs Russia; Kick-off 9 pm (St Petersburg)
Sunday, June 13
Group D: England vs Croatia; Kick-off 2 pm (London)
Group C: Austria vs Play-off winner D or A; Kick-off 5 pm (Bucharest)
Group C: the Netherlands vs Ukraine; Kick-off 8 pm (Amsterdam)
Monday, June 14
Group D: Play-off winner C vs the Czech Republic; Kick-off 2 pm (Glasgow)
Group E: Poland vs Play-off winner B; Kick-off 5 pm (Dublin)
Group E: Spain vs Sweden; Kick-off 8 pm (Bilbao)
Tuesday, June 15
Group F: Play-off winner A or D vs Portugal; Kick-off 5 pm (Budapest)
Group F: France vs Germany; Kick-off 8 pm (Munich)
Wednesday, June 16
Group B: Finland vs Russia: Kick-off 2 pm (St Petersburg)
Group A: Turkey vs Wales: Kick-off 5 pm (Baku)
Group A: Italy vs Switzerland; Kick-off 8 pm (Rome)
Thursday, June 17
Group C: Ukraine vs Play-off winner D or A; Kick-off 2 pm (Bucharest)
Group B: Denmark vs Belgium; Kick-off 5 pm (Copenhagen)
Group C: the Netherlands vs Austria; Kick-off 8 pm (Amsterdam)
Friday, June 18
Group E: Sweden vs Play-off winner B; Kick-off 2 pm (Dublin)
Group D: Croatia vs the Czech Republic; Kick-off 5 pm (Glasgow)
Group D: England vs Play-off winner C; Kick-off 8 pm (London)
Saturday, June 19
Group F: Play-off winner A or D vs France; Kick-off 2 pm (Budapest)
Group F: Portugal vs Germany; Kick-off 5 pm (Munich)
Group E: Spain vs Poland; Kick-off 8 pm (Bilbao)
Sunday, June 20
Group A: Italy vs Wales; Kick-off 5 pm (Rome)
Group A: Switzerland vs Turkey; Kick-off 5 pm (Baku)
Monday, June 21
Group C: Play-off winner D or A vs the Netherlands; Kick-off 5 pm (Amsterdam)
Group C: Ukraine vs Austria; Kick-off 5 pm (Bucharest)
Group B: Russia vs Denmark; Kick-off 8 pm (Copenhagen)
Group B: Finland vs Belgium; Kick-off 8 pm (St Petersburg)
Tuesday, June 22
Group D: Czech Republic vs England; Kick-off 8 pm (London)
Group D: Croatia vs Play-off winner C; Kick-off 8 pm (Glasgow)
Wednesday, June 23
Group E: Play-off winner B vs Spain; Kick-off 5 pm (Bilbao)
Group E: Sweden vs Poland; Kick-off 5 pm (Dublin)
Group F: Germany vs Play-off winner A or D; Kick-off 8 pm (Munich)
Group F: Portugal vs France; Kick-off 8 pm (Budapest)
Euro 2020: Here is the Schedule for the knockout stage
Round of 16
Saturday, June 26
Game 1: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up; Kick-off 5 pm (Amsterdam)
Game 2: Group A winners vs Group C runners-up; Kick-off 8 pm (London)
Sunday, June 27
Game 3: Group C winners vs third-placed side from Group D/E/F; Kick-off 5 pm (Budapest)
Game 4: Group B winners vs third-placed side from Group A/D/E/F; Kick-off 8 pm (Bilbao)
Monday, June 28
Game 5: Group D runners-up vs Group E runners-up; Kick-off 5 pm (Copenhagen)
Game 6: Group F winners vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C; Kick-off 8 pm (Bucharest)
Tuesday, June 29
Game 7: Group D winners vs Group F runners-up; Kick-off 5 pm (Dublin)
Game 8: Group E winners vs third-placed side Group A/B/C/D; Kick-off 8 pm (Glasgow)
Quarter-finals
Friday, July 2
Quarter-final 1: Game 6 winner vs Game 5 winner; Kick-off 5 pm (St Petersburg)
Quarter-final 2: Game 4 winner vs Game 2 winner; Kick-off 8 pm (Munich)
Saturday, July 3
Quarter-final 3: Game 3 winner vs Game 1 winner; Kick-off 5 pm (Baku)
Quarter-final 4: Game 8 winner vs Game 7 winner; Kick-off 8 pm (Rome)
Euro 2020 Semi-finals
Tuesday, July 6
Semi-final 1: Quarter-final 2 winner vs Quarter-final 1 winner; Kick-off 8 pm (Wembley, London)
Wednesday, July 7
Semi-final 2: Quarter-final 4 winner vs Quarter-final 3 winner; Kick-off 8 pm (Wembley, London)
The Final
Sunday, July 11
Kick-off 8 pm (Wembley, London)
