UEFA European Football Championship Tickets
Known as the main football competition in Europe, the UEFA European Football Championship is one of the largest and most watched tournaments in the sport. The UEFA is held every four years by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and since 1960 has been held in the even-numbered year between the World Cup tournaments. Until 1968, the tournament was known as the UEFA European Nations Cup; but now the tournament is simply known as the “Euro.”
All teams looking to enter the tournament must qualify before tournament play begins; with the exception of the host nation. There is a rigorous qualifying process in order to be allowed to participate. The prize is the Henri Delaunay Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the tournament. The trophy is named for Delaunay who was the first General Secretary of the UEFA and who came up with the idea for the tournament but passed away before it even came to be.
During the tournament’s history the 14 European Championship titles have been won by nine different teams. Spain and Germany have each won three titles, France has won two, and Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia have each one once. Spain is the only team to win consecutive titles; wining both in 2008 and 2012. The championship winners of the tournament earn the opportunity to compete in the following FIFA Confederations Cup; but are not required to participate.
The tournament has gone through numerous changes; with one of the biggest changes coming with the 1980 expansion which allowed the tournament to include 8 teams. In 1996, the tournament expanded again to make room for 16 teams to compete. In 2016, the tournament will go under yet another change and will now include 24 different qualifying teams. Typical set-ups include four groups of four teams who play to enter a semi-finals and then subsequently a finals match to determine tournament winners.
The location for upcoming tournaments are usually announced six years in advance. In 2010 it was announced that Euro 2016 would be held by France, with the 2020 tournament location still to be announced.
