Millions of fans from more than 190 countries gathered in Germany’s streets over the past four weeks to enjoy the football championship in an atmosphere of good humour and fairness. From Danes taking a shower under a waterfall of rainwater leaking into the Westfalen stadium and Dutch fans jumping from left to right, to a black saxophone prompting German and Scottish fans to dance together, the fans turned the European Football Championship into a happy and peaceful celebration in the heart of Europe. They also created viral football moments that we won’t forget any time soon.

Our “European home match” showed how sports can unite people, and was an opportunity for Europe to showcase its values of inclusion, respect, diversity and fairness.

EURO 2024 was a truly special event

Our team, too, put on an incredible performance and impressed time and time again. While being knocked out of the tournament by Spain in the quarter final was undoubtedly bitter, there is no denying that the German team had a fantastic tournament. They also helped to bring people in Germany a little closer to each other once again.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X: “The country came together to root for and cheer on the team, and there were a few tears, too. EURO 2024 was a truly special event! I would like to thank the lads from the German Football Association team, the fans from around the world, the volunteers and security staff. We could not have done this without you!”

Federal Minister of the Interior and Sport Nancy Faeser: “We got to enjoy the celebration of football in the heart of Europe that we had all hoped for. Our country presented itself as a great host, and millions of guests and fans partied together, joyfully and peacefully. Countless memorable scenes happened in our cities this summer. It goes without saying that football cannot solve the problems of this day and age, but over these past few weeks it fostered a spirit of community that has done a lot of good for our society.”

These European Football Championship has set new standards both from a sporting and a community point of view. After all, the event would not have been possible without the many volunteers, security and emergency workers.

Germany congratulates the record-breaking European champion Spain and says thank you to:

• 22,000 members of the Federal Police force who ensured that teams and fans felt safe every day.
• 16 state police forces that proved their ability to handle security while being the most likeable ambassadors of their country.
• 16,000 volunteers from 124 countries who worked hard to help Germany present itself as an open-minded host nation for the games.
• 13,000 helpers from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, without whom it would have been impossible to master the great logistical challenges of the tournament.
• The 10 host cities Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Leipzig, Dortmund, Frankfurt am Main, Gelsenkirchen and Stuttgart that have been perfect hosts for teams and fans alike in this football-obsessed time.
• 2.6 million fans from 190 countries who cheered on the fans in the 10 stadiums.
• 6 million fans who came to the fan zones to attend 940 public screenings organised across Germany to cheer on their teams and experience emotional encounters.
• 5 billion viewers who watched the 51 exciting matches on TV.
• 275,000 users of the Deutsche Bahn fan ticket who contributed to a sustainable tournament.
• 624 players who kept the ball rolling with their dribbling, spectacular goals, outstanding saves and determined defence.
• All the players who scored a total of 117 goals over the course of these European Championships.