Euro 2024: Qualified teams, play-off fixtures, permutations & more

The international break is an often disliked bugbear for many fans of the top European leagues. However, when the dead-rubbers are out of the way and we get to the business end of proceedings, the permutations are looked up and studied.

So, now that regular club football has returned once more – Football FanCast has recapped everything involving Euro 2024, which includes who’s through and who’s not, and following the recent draw made by UEFA, how the play-off competition works out for all involved in the three 'paths'.

How Euro 2024 works

At this tournament, being held by three-time champions Germany next year, there are ten host cities. These will see action with the beginning of the tournament on 14th June at the Munich Football Arena (or Allianz Arena).

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Before tournament action begins, the draw for group placings takes place in Hamburg on Saturday 2nd December. As the host nation, Germany are seeded in Group A and will occupy position A1.

2024’s format will be the same as Euro 2020. The top two in each of the six final tournament groups will proceed to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed finishers.

Teams that have qualified for Euro 2024

Since Euro 2024 qualifiers initially kicked off in March 2023, the formative 53 UEFA member associations have been whittled down to 20 (plus the hosts, Germany).

The seeding for the final tournament has also been determined, with England squeezing into Pot 1 thanks to their qualifying record. Fellow heavyweights Portugal, France, Spain and Belgium are all also seeded, while the three play-off winners will join holders Italy in Pot 4.

The qualified teams are as follows:

Teams	Qualified as	Date Qualified	Previous appearances
Germany	Host	27 September 2018	13
Belgium	Group F winner	13 October 2023	6
France	Group B winner	13 October 2023	10
Portugal	Group J winner	13 October 2023	8
Scotland	Group A runner-up	15 October 2023	3
Spain	Group A winner	15 October 2023	11
Turkey	Group D winner	15 October 2023	5
Austria	Group F runner-up	16 October 2023	3
England	Group C winner	17 October 2023	10
Hungary	Group G winner	16 November 2023	4
Slovakia	Group J runner-up	16 November 2023	5
Albania	Group E winner	17 November 2023	1
Denmark	Group H winner	17 November 2023	9
Netherlands	Group B runner-up	18 November 2023	10
Romania	Group I winner	18 November 2023	5
Switzerland	Group I runner-up	18 November 2023	5
Serbia	Group G runner-up	19 November 2023	5
Czech Republic	Group E runner-up	20 November 2023	10
Italy	Group C runner-up	20 November 2023	10
Slovenia	Group H runner-up	20 November 2023	1
Croatia	Group D runner-up	21 November 2023	6

Euro 2024 qualifying procedure

For the rest of the competing teams that have yet to qualify, there’s no reason to despair – as this competition has play-off places where the countries in limbo can find reprieve. Playing a part in this are the team’s results and standings from the Nations League group games played last year.

The 12 play-off participants have been split into three paths comprising of four teams each. In each path, there will be two single-leg semi-finals on 21st March, with the winners progressing to a one-off final on 26th March.

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The play-off 'paths' depend on nations' respective performances in their Nations League division, with the best-placed teams granted an automatic play-off berth if they were unable to qualify through the regular qualifying group phase.

Path C: Georgia, Greece and Kazakhstan were all assured of a play-off place after winning their Nations League C groups. However, due to Turkey qualifying for the final tournament outright, their play-off spot went to the best-performing League C team who didn't qualify, which was Luxembourg.

Therefore, one of these teams will qualify for the tournament:

Date	Home team	vs	Away team	Venue
21st March	Georgia	vs	Luxembourg	Tbilisi
21st March	Greece	vs	Kazakhstan	Athens
26th March	Winner Match 1	vs	Winner Match 2	Tbilisi/Luxembourg City

Path B: The teams in Path B were determined by a draw, due to there only being two teams advancing to the play-offs from Path A. As winners of their Nations League groups, Israel and Bosnia & Herzegovina were guaranteed home semi-final slots. The three best-performing League B teams from the Nations League who failed to qualify automatically (Finland, Ukraine and Iceland) were drawn to decide who will face League B opponents, and who will fill the slot in Path A.

The remaining League A slot was taken up by the highest-ranked League D side, Estonia.

Date	Home team	vs	Away team	Venue
21st March	Israel	vs	Iceland	To be decided
21st March	Bosnia & Herzegovina	vs	Ukraine	Zenica
26th March	Winner Match 1	vs	Winner Match 2	Zenica/TBD

Path A: As explained above, the four slots in Path A's play-off route were taken up by the two League A nations who failed to qualify (Poland and Wales), League D's leading team (Estonia) and the remaining League B side (Finland).

The former two were guaranteed home semis, while Wales and Finland were handed the prospect of a home final following a separate draw.

Date	Home team	vs	Away team	Venue
21st March	Wales	vs	Finland	Cardiff
21st March	Poland	vs	Estonia	Warsaw
26th March	Winner Match 1	vs	Winner Match 2	Cardiff/Helsinki

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