UEFA Euro 2020#Group A

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 bids}}

While some countries such as Belgium,{{Cite web |date=12 April 2010 |title=Haalt België Euro 2020 of WK −20 binnen? |trans-title=Can Belgium host Euro 2020 or the U-20 World Cup |url=http://www.belgiumsoccer.be/nieuws/lees/2010-12-04/haalt-belgie-euro-2020-of-wk--20-binnen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910040628/http://www.belgiumsoccer.be/nieuws/lees/2010-12-04/haalt-belgie-euro-2020-of-wk--20-binnen |archive-date=10 September 2017 |access-date=5 January 2012 |website=Belgiumsoccer |language=Dutch}} Bulgaria and Romania,{{Cite news |date=19 November 2007 |title=Bulgaria confirma: vrea sa organizeze Euro 2020 impreuna cu Romania |language=Romanian |trans-title=Bulgaria confirms: it wants to host Euro 2020 with Romania |work=HotNews.ro |url=http://sport.hotnews.ro/stiri-fotbal-2004313-bulgaria-confirma-vrea-organizeze-euro-2020-impreuna-romania.htm}} Germany,{{Cite web |date=8 July 2010 |title=Drei Länder für eine Fußball-EM |trans-title=Three countries for one European Championship |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5770314,00.html |language=German |agency=Deutsche Welle}}{{Cite news |date=4 March 2012 |title=Niersbach: EM-Bewerbung wäre 'reizvoll' |language=German |trans-title=Niersbach: Euro hosting would be 'attractive' |work=FIFA.com |url=http://de.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1594176.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704095419/http://de.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1594176.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 July 2012}} Hungary and Romania,{{Cite news |date=28 September 2010 |title=România şi Ungaria vor să organizeze Euro 2020 sau 2024 |language=Romanian |trans-title=Romania and Hungary will host Euro 2020 or 2024 |work=România Liberă |url=http://www1.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/sport/romania-si-ungaria-vor-sa-organizeze-euro-2020-sau-2024-200996.html}} Ireland, Scotland, and Wales,{{Cite web |date=15 May 2012 |title=Scotland and Wales FAs may look to Ireland to aid Euro 2020 bid |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0515/320958-ireland-may-become-part-of-three-way-bid/ |website=RTÉ Sport |publisher=RTÉ}} the Netherlands,{{Cite news |date=10 March 2011 |title=KNVB richt zich nu op binnenhalen EK 2020 |language=Dutch |trans-title=KNVB now focusing on winning Euro 2020 |work=NU.nl |url=http://www.nu.nl/sport/2464088/knvb-richt-zich-binnenhalen-ek-2020.html}} and Turkey{{Cite news |date=17 April 2012 |title=TFF Başkanı'ndan Açıklama |language=Turkish |trans-title=TFF President Announcement |publisher=Turkish Football Federation |url=http://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=285&ftxtID=14970}} had already expressed an interest in bidding to host the tournament, then-UEFA president Michel Platini suggested at a press conference on 30 June 2012, a day before the UEFA Euro 2012 Final, that instead of having one host country, or joint hosting by multiple countries, the tournament could be spread over "12 or 13 cities" across the continent, as was done for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship's elite round, where each of the seven groups was hosted by a different country.{{Cite news |date=30 June 2012 |title=Michel Platini says Euro 2020 could be spread across continent |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18657633 |access-date=30 June 2012}}

On 6 December 2012, UEFA announced the tournament would be held in multiple cities across Europe to mark the 60th anniversary of the tournament.{{Cite web |date=6 December 2012 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 to be held across continent |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0252-0ce05d361003-69d37557d56a-1000--uefa-euro-2020-to-be-held-across-continent/ |website=UEFA |access-date=14 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=6 December 2012 |title=European Championship: Uefa to hold 2020 finals across continent |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20631963 |access-date=7 December 2012}} The selection of the host cities did not guarantee an automatic qualifying berth to the national team of that country. UEFA reasoned that the pan-European staging of the tournament was the logical decision at a time of financial difficulty, such as the European debt crisis.{{Cite web |date=6 December 2012 |title='Euro for Europe' means shared opportunity |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d0402abd39f-daa7d475c1ca-1000--euro-for-europe-means-shared-opportunity/ |website=UEFA}}{{Cite web |date=6 December 2012 |title=Euro 2020 to be hosted across Europe, Uefa announces |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/dec/06/euro-2020-across-europe-uefa |access-date=7 December 2012 |website=The Guardian}} Reaction to UEFA's plan was mixed across Europe.{{Cite news |date=7 December 2012 |title=Euro 2020: Michel Platini's plan polarises opinion |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20639814 |access-date=7 December 2012}} Critics cited the expanded format (from 31 matches featuring 16 nations to 51 featuring 24) and its associated additional costs as the decisive factor for only one nation (Turkey) having put forward a serious bid.{{Cite web |date=6 December 2012 |title=Michel Platini's Euro 2020 roadshow may be coming to a city near you |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/dec/06/euro-2020-michel-platini-roadshow |access-date=7 December 2012 |website=The Guardian}}

The final list of bids was published by UEFA on 26 April 2014, with a decision on the hosts being made by the UEFA Executive Committee on 19 September 2014. There were two bids for the Finals Package (of which one was successful, marked with dark green for semi-finals and final) and 19 bids for the Standard Package (of which 12 were initially successful, marked with light green for quarter-finals and group stage, and yellow for round of 16 and group stage); Brussels, marked with red, were initially selected but removed from the list of venues by UEFA on 7 December 2017.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2014 |title=19 bids received for UEFA Euro 2020 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7f562ed27a-ce2079184777-1000--nineteen-bids-for-uefa-euro-2020/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite news |date=7 December 2017 |title=Euro 2020: Wembley to host seven matches after Brussels loses right to host games |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42270759}}{{Cite web |date=19 September 2014 |title=Wembley to stage UEFA Euro 2020 final |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7f8240ecb7-b63cbbe97026-1000--wembley-to-stage-uefa-euro-2020-final/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526182243/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0253-0d7f8240ecb7-b63cbbe97026-1000--wembley-to-stage-uefa-euro-2020-final/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}} Dublin, marked in red, was initially selected but removed from the list of venues by UEFA on 23 April 2021. On the same day, UEFA also announced the matches in Spain would be moved from Bilbao to Seville.

{{legend|#ffffcc|Successful bid for group stage and round of 16}}

{{legend|#ccffcc|Successful bid for group stage and quarter-finals}}

{{legend|#90ee90|Successful bid for semi-finals and final. Later added: Group stage and round of 16}}

{{legend|#ffbbbb|Successful bid for group stage and round of 16 at first but later removed from list}}

{{legend|#bbf3ff|Successful bid for group stage and round of 16 but later changed to another venue in country}}

{{legend|#f9f9f9|Unsuccessful bid (either rejected as judged by UEFA to not fulfill the bid requirements, or eliminated by vote)}}

{{notelist}}

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe triggered concerns regarding its potential effect on players, staff and visitors to the twelve host cities of the tournament.{{Cite news |last=Homewood |first=Brian |date=25 February 2020 |title=UEFA says monitoring coronavirus, not yet clear if any impact on Euro 2020 |work=Associated Press |location=Rome |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-italy-soccer/uefa-says-monitoring-coronavirus-not-yet-clear-if-any-impact-on-euro-2020-idUSKBN20J1XS |access-date=25 February 2020 |via=Reuters}} At the UEFA Congress in early March, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said the organisation was confident that the situation could be dealt with, while general secretary Theodore Theodoridis stated that UEFA was maintaining contact with the World Health Organization and national governments regarding the coronavirus.{{Cite news |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=3 March 2020 |title=Uefa's Ceferin warns against fixating on 'dark scenarios' over coronavirus threat |work=The Guardian |location=Amsterdam |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/03/uefa-congress-ceferin-coronavirus-dark-scenarios |access-date=12 March 2020}} The impact on football grew later that month, as numerous domestic and UEFA competition matches began taking place behind closed doors. By 13 March 2020, upcoming UEFA competition fixtures were postponed, while major European leagues were suspended, including the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, and Serie A.{{Cite news |date=12 March 2020 |title=Coronavirus: How the virus has impacted sporting events around the world |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/51605235 |access-date=15 March 2020}}

UEFA held a videoconference on 17 March 2020 with representatives of its 55 member associations, along with a FIFPro representative and the boards of the European Club Association and European Leagues, to discuss the response to the outbreak for domestic and European competitions, including Euro 2020.{{Cite news |date=12 March 2020 |title=UEFA calls meeting of European Football Stakeholders |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/025b-0f8e769170fb-415a0753a4e8-1000--uefa-calls-meeting-of-european-football-stakeholders/ |access-date=12 March 2020}} At the meeting, UEFA announced that the tournament would be postponed to the following year, proposing that it take place from 11 June to 11 July 2021.{{Cite news |date=17 March 2020 |title=Resolution of the European football family on a coordinated response to the impact of the COVID-19 on competitions |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/025b-0f8e76b585dc-2d8b4cc9af94-1000--resolution-of-the-european-football-family-on-a-coordinated/ |access-date=17 March 2020}} The postponement allowed for pressure to be reduced on the public services in affected countries, while also providing space in the calendar for domestic European leagues that had been suspended to complete their seasons.{{Cite news |date=17 March 2020 |title=UEFA postpones Euro 2020 by 12 months |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/025b-0f8e76aef315-8506a9de10aa-1000/ |access-date=17 March 2020}} On the following day, the Bureau of the FIFA Council approved the date change in the FIFA International Match Calendar. As a result, the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, due to take place in June and July 2021, was cancelled.{{Cite news |date=18 March 2020 |title=Bureau of the FIFA Council decisions concerning impact of COVID-19 |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |url=https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/bureau-of-the-fifa-council-decisions-concerning-impact-of-covid-19 |access-date=18 March 2020}} On 23 April 2020, UEFA confirmed that the tournament would still be known as UEFA Euro 2020.{{Cite news |date=23 April 2020 |title=Executive Committee approves guidelines on eligibility for participation in UEFA competitions |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/025c-0f8e77ff99c2-6827588aa119-1000--executive-committee-approves-guidelines-on-eligibility-for/ |access-date=23 April 2020}}{{Cite news |date=23 April 2020 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 to keep its name |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025c-0f3dbcbd50d8-e5b818335722-1000/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304131535/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025c-0f3dbcbd50d8-e5b818335722-1000/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2021 |access-date=15 November 2020}}

In May 2020, Čeferin stated that in principle the tournament would take place in the twelve selected host cities. However, he did not rule out the possibility of reducing the number of cities, as three hosts were unsure if matches could be held under the new schedule.{{Cite news |last=McKay |first=Gabriel |date=15 May 2020 |title=Alexander Ceferin makes Euro 2020 admission as Hampden put on red alert over hosting duties |work=Daily Record |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alexander-ceferin-makes-euro-2020-22035666 |access-date=17 May 2020}} The tournament venues and match schedule was reviewed by the UEFA Executive Committee during their meeting on 17 June 2020.{{Cite news |date=11 June 2020 |title=UEFA Executive Committee agenda for June meeting |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/025e-0fa9108331ad-59593618a7b2-1000--uefa-executive-committee-agenda-for-june-meeting/ |access-date=11 June 2020}} At the meeting, UEFA confirmed that all twelve original host venues would remain as hosts for the tournament in 2021, and approved the revised match schedule.{{Cite news |date=17 June 2020 |title=UEFA competitions to resume in August |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/025e-0fb6101cfdbf-8b878372d79d-1000--uefa-competitions-to-resume-in-august/ |access-date=17 June 2020}}{{Cite news |date=17 June 2020 |title=Venues confirmed for Euro 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025e-0fac6d3ee9e4-85b1a76389ea-1000/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621021835/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025e-0fac6d3ee9e4-85b1a76389ea-1000/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2020 |access-date=17 June 2020}} However, Čeferin stated in October 2020 that it was still possible that the tournament could be played in fewer than the planned twelve host countries.{{Cite news |date=16 October 2020 |title=Fewer hosts for Euro 2020 an option: UEFA president |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-uefa/fewer-hosts-for-euro-2020-an-option-uefa-president-idINKBN27115W |access-date=20 October 2020}} The following month, UEFA stated that it "intends to hold Euro 2020 in the format and the venues confirmed earlier this year and we are working closely with all host cities on preparations".{{Cite news |date=4 November 2020 |title=Uefa says it has no plans to change format of Euro 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/uefa-says-it-has-no-plans-to-change-format-of-euro-2020-1.4399958 |access-date=14 January 2021}} It was also announced that each host was discussing with UEFA and local health authorities on whether the venue could host matches at full capacity, between 100% and 50% capacity, at 33% capacity or behind closed doors. Each host city was asked to draw up two or three plans from the four options. The restrictions could also involve only local spectators to be permitted at matches. A final decision on which scenario would be applied individually at each venue was originally to be made on 5 March 2021.{{Cite news |date=27 November 2020 |title=UEFA legt Zuschauerzahlen für Euro 2021 früh fest |language=de |trans-title=UEFA sets early crowd figures for Euro 2021 |work=Sportschau |publisher=ARD |url=https://www.sportschau.de/fussball/uefaeuro2020/uefa-entscheidet-anfang-maerz-100.html |access-date=14 January 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Cooney |first=Gavin |date=26 December 2020 |title=FAI to present Uefa with range of Aviva capacity scenarios in hope to hold on to Dublin's Euro 2020 games |work=The42.ie |url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-euro-2020-5310926-Dec2020/ |access-date=14 January 2021}} In October 2020, it was announced that UEFA matches would be suspended from taking place in Armenia and Azerbaijan until further notice due to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.{{Cite news |date=20 October 2020 |title=Temporary suspension of UEFA matches in Armenia and Azerbaijan |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0262-10a834b7b97d-6b083c552d9e-1000/ |access-date=20 October 2020}} However, this did not affect the planning of Euro 2020 matches to be held in Baku.{{Cite news |last=Dunbar |first=Graham |date=20 October 2020 |title=Euro 2020 not at risk from UEFA block on Azerbaijan hosting |work=Associated Press |location=Geneva |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-turkey-international-soccer-brussels-baku-929f9f53d4ad8892cf35dcbbc9f359b4 |access-date=22 October 2020}} This restriction was lifted in December 2020 following a ceasefire agreement between the countries.{{Cite news |date=3 December 2020 |title=Tirana to host first UEFA Europa Conference League final |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0264-11008e81d161-577edb45950b-1000/ |access-date=23 April 2021}}

In a New Year's interview, Čeferin said, "Vaccination has started and I think we will be able to have full stands in the summer. For now, the plan is to play in all twelve countries. Of course, there are backup options in case a country has a problem. We are ready to organise competitions in eleven, ten or nine cities... and even only in one country, if necessary. However, I am 99.9 percent sure that we will have the European Championship in all twelve cities, as planned."{{Cite news |date=31 December 2020 |title=Predsednik UEFA žali što Srbije nema na EP: Čeferin otkrio zbog čega se pribojavao baraža sa Škotskom i zašto regionalna ex Yu liga nije realna |language=sr |trans-title=UEFA president regrets that Serbia is not at the European Championship: Čeferin revealed why he was afraid of the play-off with Scotland and why the regional ex-Yugoslav league is not realistic |work=24sedam.rs |publisher=Informer |url=https://24sedam.rs/sport/predsednik-uefa-zali-sto-srbije-nema-na-ep-ceferin-otkrio-zbog-cega-se-pribojavao-baraza-sa-skotskom-i-zasto-regionalna-ex-yu-liga-nije-realna/ |access-date=14 January 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Simon |date=11 January 2021 |title=Fate of Euro 2020 tournament hangs on vaccine efforts |work=Reuters |location=Manchester |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-uefa-euros/fate-of-euro-2020-tournament-hangs-on-vaccine-efforts-idUKKBN29G280 |access-date=14 January 2021}} On 27 January 2021, UEFA met with the host associations to discuss operational matters, and reaffirmed the tournament would be held across twelve cities.{{Cite news |date=27 January 2021 |title=UEFA meets EURO 2020 hosts |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0265-116f42eb4c69-6bafcc7bae90-1000/ |access-date=27 January 2021}} The deadline for hosts to submit their venue capacity plans was moved to 7 April 2021,{{Cite news |last=Cooney |first=Gavin |date=3 March 2021 |title=Uefa set 7 April deadline as doubts grow over Dublin's ability to host Euro 2020 games |work=The42.ie |url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-euro-2020-games-5371401-Mar2021/ |access-date=2 April 2021}} with a final decision on host cities and spectators to originally be made by the UEFA Executive Committee on 19 April 2021.{{Cite news |date=8 April 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Host nations announce positions on fans |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56667738 |access-date=9 April 2021}} UEFA announced on the following day that Daniel Koch, the former head of communicable diseases at Switzerland's Federal Office of Public Health, would serve as the tournament's medical advisor on matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |date=28 January 2021 |title=Top Swiss expert on global pandemic appointed as UEFA Euro 2020 medical advisor |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0265-117149c1460d-36a763f715e6-1000/ |access-date=29 January 2021}} In February 2021, the Israel Football Association offered to stage some tournament matches in the country, which had a high rate of vaccination. However, this was turned down by UEFA, who reiterated their commitment to the twelve host cities.{{Cite news |last=Dalleres |first=Frank |date=16 February 2021 |title=Uefa snubs Israeli offer to stage Euro 2020 matches and reaffirms commitment to 12 host nations |work=City A.M. |url=https://www.cityam.com/uefa-snubs-israeli-offer-to-stage-euro-2020-matches-and-reaffirms-commitment-to-12-host-nations/ |access-date=16 April 2021}} In a March 2021 interview, Čeferin said, "We have several scenarios, but the one guarantee we can make is that the option of playing any Euro 2020 match in an empty stadium is off the table. Every host must guarantee there will be fans at their games." UEFA subsequently stated that no host city would be automatically dropped should they decide to play matches behind closed doors. However, UEFA would need to consider whether it would make sense to play matches without spectators, or if these matches should be reallocated to other venues.{{Cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Matt |last2=Crane |first2=Jonathan |date=17 March 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Will there be fans in stadiums? |work=Deutsche Welle |url=https://www.dw.com/en/euro-2020-will-there-be-fans-in-stadiums/a-56898603 |access-date=2 April 2021}} That same month, British prime minister Boris Johnson offered UEFA to host additional tournament matches in England should any venues need to be reassigned.{{Cite news |date=2 March 2021 |title=England ready for more Euro games and we want 2030 World Cup — Boris Johnson |work=The Athletic |url=https://theathletic.com/news/england-euro-2020-world-cup/SElDDOuqe81l |access-date=16 April 2021}}

On 9 April 2021, UEFA announced that eight of the original twelve tournament hosts confirmed their spectator plans, with stadium capacities ranging from 25% to 100%. Only Bilbao, Dublin, Munich and Rome had yet to submit their plans, with each host originally given an extension until 19 April 2021 to submit their venue capacities.{{Cite news |date=9 April 2021 |title=Eight UEFA Euro 2020 hosts confirm matches with spectators |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-11fff5dff16f-4cf8e9e33935-1000/ |access-date=9 April 2021}} On 14 April, UEFA announced that Rome had guaranteed spectators for the tournament, and was therefore confirmed as a venue.{{Cite news |date=14 April 2021 |title=Rome confirms fans for UEFA Euro 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-1209ed064893-4fc79c333ab4-1000/ |access-date=14 April 2021}} On 19 April, it was announced that another extension was given to the three remaining hosts until 23 April, when UEFA would make its final decision.{{Cite news |date=19 April 2021 |title=Decision on remaining EURO 2020 venues to be made on 23 April |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-1214020b4e91-505f9675c6cc-1000/ |access-date=19 April 2021}} Due to the need to finalise ticketing details, host cities would have until 28 April to decide on whether to leave their spectator limits unchanged, or to upscale their allowed capacities.{{Cite news |last=Kilpatrick |first=Dan |date=7 April 2021 |title=Euro 2020 host nations set to submit their plans for fans |work=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/euro-2020-host-nations-set-to-submit-their-plans-for-fans-b928258.html |access-date=7 April 2021}}

On 23 April, UEFA announced that Seville would replace Bilbao as tournament host, while the matches of Dublin would be reallocated to Saint Petersburg for the group stage and London for the round of 16.{{Cite news |date=23 April 2021 |title=Change of venues for some UEFA Euro 2020 matches announced |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-121bc78c82d5-1ba16401b4f0-1000/ |access-date=23 April 2021}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland was unable to receive assurances from the Government of Ireland and the Dublin City Council to allow spectators into the stadium.{{Cite news |date=7 April 2021 |title=Statement from FAI re EURO 2020 submission |work=Football Association of Ireland |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/statement-from-fai-re-euro-2020-submission |access-date=23 April 2021}}{{Cite news |date=23 April 2021 |title=UEFA moves Euro 2020 games from Dublin |work=Football Association of Ireland |url=https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/uefa-moves-euro-2020-games-from-dublin |access-date=23 April 2021}}{{Cite news |date=23 April 2021 |title=FAI Chief Executive Jonathan Hill reacts to UEFA Euro 2020 decision |work=Football Association of Ireland |url=https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/fai-chief-executive-jonathan-hill-reacts-to-uefa-euro-2020-decision |access-date=23 April 2021}} Meanwhile, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said the sanitary conditions imposed by the Basque Government to host matches in Bilbao were "impossible to comply with", and thus would not allow for spectators to be present.{{Cite news |date=7 April 2021 |title=La RFEF ve inviable que haya público en Bilbao debido a las condiciones sanitarias establecidas por el Gobierno vasco |language=es |trans-title=The RFEF considers it unfeasible for the public to be present in Bilbao due to the sanitary conditions established by the Basque Government. |work=Royal Spanish Football Federation |url=https://www.rfef.es/noticias/rfef-ve-inviable-que-haya-publico-bilbao-debido-condiciones-sanitarias-establecidas |access-date=23 April 2021}} After being removed as hosts, the Bilbao City Council stated they held UEFA and RFEF "directly responsible for us not staging this sporting event and the unilateral cancellation of our contractual relationships", and threatened legal action for financial compensation.{{Cite news |date=21 April 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Declaración institucional de la 'Sede Bilbao' |language=es |trans-title=Euro 2020: Institutional declaration of the 'Bilbao Headquarters' |publisher=Bilbao City Council |url=https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Noticia_FA&cid=1279206682839&language=es&pageid=3000075248&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FBIO_Noticia_FA%2FBIO_Noticia |access-date=23 April 2021}}

Also on 23 April, UEFA announced that local authorities had guaranteed "a minimum of 14,500 spectators" for the matches scheduled in Munich, which was therefore confirmed as host of four games. However, both the regional government of Bavaria and the German interior ministry subsequently reiterated their position that there was no such guarantee, and admittance of spectators would depend on the actual pandemic situation at the time of the tournament.{{Cite news |date=23 April 2021 |title=Regierung: Keine Garantie für EM mit Zuschauern in München |language=de |trans-title=Government: No guarantee for European Championship with spectators in Munich |work=T-Online |location=Nyon |url=https://www.t-online.de/region/id_89903844/regierung-keine-garantie-fuer-em-mit-zuschauern-in-muenchen.html |access-date=28 April 2021}} A few days later, UEFA president Čeferin backtracked in an interview with a German newspaper, denying that UEFA had demanded guarantees for games with spectators, and conceding that "the local authorities will decide before the games whether spectators will be admitted or not."{{Cite news |date=25 April 2021 |title=Ceferin relativiert: "Behörden entscheiden" über Zuschauer bei EM |language=de |trans-title=Čeferin relativises: "Authorities decide" on spectators at European Championship |work=Sportschau |url=https://www.sportschau.de/fussball/uefaeuro2020/euro-muenchen-spielort-ceferin-uefa-100.html |access-date=28 April 2021}}{{Cite news |date=25 April 2021 |title=Zuschauer bei EM-Spielen in München? UEFA-Boss Aleksander Ceferin bezieht Stellung |language=de |trans-title=Spectators at European Championship matches in Munich? UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin takes a stand |work=Sportbuzzer |url=https://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/em-2021-zuschauer-munchen-fans-corona-uefa-aleksander-ceferin-reaktion/ |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611234526/https://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/em-2021-zuschauer-munchen-fans-corona-uefa-aleksander-ceferin-reaktion/ |url-status=dead }}

File:Mattarella Johnson UEFA Euro 2020 Final.jpg speaks with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson before the final]]

Wembley Stadium's hosting of both the semi-finals and the final was threatened over quarantine restrictions in the United Kingdom that fans and 2,500 VIPs would be subject to. The Puskás Aréna in Budapest was considered as an alternative venue, as Hungary would have no entry restrictions for travel within the Schengen Area and could host the matches at full capacity.{{Cite news |last=Maguire |first=Patrick |date=18 June 2021 |title=Uefa threat over Euro 2020 final at Wembley |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/uefa-threat-euro-2020-final-quaranting-hungary-budapest-0f3jhc99v |access-date=24 June 2021}} A spokesman for the Hungarian Football Federation said the organisation was "ready to host any high-level football event".{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Simon |date=18 June 2021 |title=UEFA has contingency plan for London-scheduled Euro 2020 final |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/uefa-say-it-has-contingency-plan-euro-2020-final-2021-06-18/ |access-date=18 June 2021}} However, UEFA remained confident that Wembley could host the final, as the organisation and the UK government discussed quarantine exemptions,{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Laura |title=Euro 2020: Uefa 'confident' over Wembley games but has 'contingency plan' |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57523197 |access-date=18 June 2021 |agency=BBC Sport}} but did not rule out a change in venue.{{Cite news |last=Panja |first=Tariq |author-link=Tariq Panja |date=18 June 2021 |title=UEFA Won't Rule Out Moving Euro 2020 Final Over Virus Limits |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/sports/soccer/euro-2020-wembley-final.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/sports/soccer/euro-2020-wembley-final.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |url-access=limited |access-date=24 June 2021}}{{cbignore}} Minister Kit Malthouse said the government was doing "as much as we possibly can" to host the final,{{Cite news |last1=Cecil |first1=Nicholas |last2=France |first2=Anthony |date=18 June 2021 |title=We'll fight to keep the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, insists Kit Malthouse |work=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/euro2020/wembley-final-euro-2020-vips-exempt-quarantine-budapest-b941365.html |access-date=24 June 2021}} while prime minister Boris Johnson stated they would try to make "sensible accommodations" for UEFA while still prioritising public health.{{Cite news |last=Slater |first=Matt |date=18 June 2021 |title=Euro 2020 final could be moved away from Wembley under UEFA 'contingency plan' |work=The Athletic |url=https://theathletic.com/news/euro-2020-final-wembley-latest/WSCXOQZYfsG2 |access-date=24 June 2021}} Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the final should be held in Rome due to rising COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |date=22 June 2021 |title=Italy's PM says Euro final should be moved to Rome due to rise in Covid cases |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-06-22/italys-pm-says-euro-2020-final-should-be-moved-from-wembley-to-rome-due-to-rise-in-uk-covid-cases |website=ITV News |accessdate=23 June 2021}} The following week, it was reported that officials and executives travelling for the matches would not need to self-isolate, though they would be subject to restrictions and required to remain in "football bubbles".{{Cite news |last=Morrison |first=Sean |date=23 June 2021 |title='Bubbles' of visiting Euro 2020 VIPs could be exempt from quarantine rules |work=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/euro-2020-vip-bubbles-quarantine-exemption-b942101.html |access-date=24 June 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Faulkner |first=Doug |date=23 June 2021 |title=Covid: Wembley VIP fans will face restrictions – minister |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57580088 |access-date=24 June 2021}}

On 31 March 2021, the UEFA Executive Committee approved the use of a maximum of five substitutions in matches at the tournament (with a sixth allowed in extra time).{{Cite news |date=31 March 2021 |title=Five substitutions allowed at UEFA Euro 2020 and 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0267-11edb1571770-3578252ba32d-1000/ |access-date=31 March 2021}} However, each team are only given three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity allowed in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.{{Cite web |date=8 May 2020 |title=Temporary amendment to Law 3 |url=https://static-3eb8.kxcdn.com/documents/843/113921_080520_IFAB_Circular_19_2020_EN.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130203121/https://static-3eb8.kxcdn.com/documents/843/113921_080520_IFAB_Circular_19_2020_EN.pdf |archive-date=30 November 2020 |access-date=31 March 2021 |website=International Football Association Board |location=Zürich}} The use of five substitutes has been permitted by IFAB during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the resulting fixture congestion, which has created a greater burden on players.{{Cite news |date=15 July 2020 |title=Five-substitute option extended into 2021 in response to COVID-19 pandemic |work=International Football Association Board |url=https://www.theifab.com/news/five-substitute-option-extended-into-2021-in-response-to-covid-19-pandemic |access-date=30 March 2021}}

At the start of April 2021, UEFA also said they were considering allowing tournament squads to be expanded from the usual 23 players, following calls from national team managers in case of a possible COVID outbreak in a team, as well as to reduce player fatigue caused by the fixture congestion of the prior season.{{Cite news |date=1 April 2021 |title=UEFA 'considering' allowing expanded squads for Euro 2020 |work=France 24 |agency=Agence France-Presse |location=Lausanne |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210401-uefa-considering-allowing-expanded-squads-for-euro-2020 |access-date=9 April 2021}} On 27 April, it was reported that the UEFA National Team Competitions Committee had approved the expansion of squads to 26 players, subject to confirmation by the UEFA Executive Committee.{{Cite news |date=27 April 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Teams permitted to select 26-player squads |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56905822 |access-date=27 April 2021}} On 4 May 2021, the executive committee confirmed the use of 26-player squads. However, teams still may only name a maximum of 23 players on the match sheet for each tournament fixture (of which 12 are substitutes), in line with the Laws of the Game. These 23 must include three goalkeepers. It was also announced that after each team's first match, goalkeepers may still be replaced due to physical incapacity, even if the other goalkeepers from the squad are still available.{{Cite news |date=4 May 2021 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 squad lists increased to 26 players |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0269-1231bd792c49-a6538476b567-1000/ |access-date=4 May 2021}}

Water breaks were permitted so that players could drink from their own personal bottles.{{Cite news |last=Magee |first=Will |date=23 June 2021 |title=Robert Lewandowski's heroics in vain as Poland succumb to Sweden and crash out of Euro 2020 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/euro-2021/2021/06/23/sweden-vs-poland-euro-2020-live-score-team-news-latest-updates/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/euro-2021/2021/06/23/sweden-vs-poland-euro-2020-live-score-team-news-latest-updates/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=6 July 2021 |issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}} Cooling breaks, first seen at the 2014 FIFA World Cup were also permitted for games played in higher temperatures.{{Cite news |last=Percival |first=Holly |title=Slovakia vs Spain to use 'cooling breaks' in final group game of Euro 2020 |work=The New York Times |url=https://theathletic.com/news/slovakia-vs-spain-cooling-breaks-euro-2020/EM8ahYXKtjYA }}

On 4 May 2021, the UEFA Executive Committee approved special rules for the final tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe:{{Cite web |date=4 May 2021 |title=Special rules applicable to the Euro 2020 final tournament due to COVID-19 |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0269-122ffdf305da-5ed483f1d1a2-1000/special_rules_applicable_to_the_euro_2020_final_tournament_due_to_covid-19_20210503140511.pdf |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=UEFA}}

• If a group of players of a team were placed into mandatory quarantine or self-isolation following a decision from national or local health officials due to positive SARS-CoV-2 tests, the match would go ahead as scheduled as long as the team had at least 13 players available (including at least one goalkeeper). If fewer than 13 players were available (including at least one goalkeeper), additional players could have been called up to meet the minimum of 13 players required. In such a case, an equivalent number of quarantined players had to have been definitively withdrawn from the 26-player list.
• If a team could not field the minimum required number of players due to positive SARS-CoV-2 tests, the match could have been rescheduled within the next 48 hours of the original date of the match by the UEFA administration, subject to viable rescheduling options being available. Additionally, UEFA could have reassigned the rescheduled match to an alternative venue if deemed appropriate.
• If the match could not be rescheduled, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body would have decided on the matter. The team responsible for the match not taking place would have been considered to have forfeited the match and would have lost 3–0.
• If any member of the appointed referee team had to be replaced due to a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, UEFA could have exceptionally appointed a match official of the same nationality as one of the teams or not on the FIFA list.

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying}}

File:UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying map.svg

There was no automatic qualifying berth, and all 55 UEFA national teams, including the twelve national teams whose countries were selected to stage matches, had to compete in the qualifiers for the 24 places at the finals tournament.{{Cite web |title=UEFA Euro 2020 Tournament Requirements |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/General/01/95/21/41/1952141_DOWNLOAD.pdf |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819225923/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/General/01/95/21/41/1952141_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=12 September 2013 |title=Bids for Euro 2020 due today; tournament to be held all across Europe |url=http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/12/bids-for-euro-2020-due-today-tournament-to-be-held-all-across-europe/ |work=NBC Sports}} As the host cities were appointed by UEFA in September 2014, before the qualifiers, it was possible for the national teams from the host cities to fail to qualify for the finals tournament. The qualifying draw was held on 2 December 2018 at the Convention Centre Dublin in Dublin, Ireland.{{Cite web |date=28 September 2017 |title=Dublin to stage European Qualifiers draw on 2 December 2018 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2503882.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928142702/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2503882.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2017 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}

The main qualifying process started in March 2019, instead of immediately in September 2018 following the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and ended in November 2019. The format remained largely the same, although only 20 of the 24 spots for the finals tournament were decided from the main qualifying process, leaving four spots still to be decided. Following the admission of Kosovo to UEFA in May 2016, it was announced that the 55 members at the time would be drawn into ten groups after the completion of the UEFA Nations League (five groups of five teams and five groups of six teams, with the four participants of the UEFA Nations League Finals guaranteed to be drawn into groups of five teams), with the top two teams in each group qualifying. The qualifiers were played on double matchdays in March, June, September, October and November 2019.

With the creation of the UEFA Nations League starting in 2018,{{Cite web |date=27 March 2014 |title=UEFA Nations League receives associations' green light |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d7f508f2f07-50b5c70c1601-1000--uefa-nations-league-receives-green-light/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{Cite web |date=27 March 2014 |title=UEFA Nations League: all you need to know |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/newsid=2079553.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924025117/http://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/newsid=2079553.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2017 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{Cite web |title=UEFA Nations League/UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/08/20/36/2082036_DOWNLOAD.pdf |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411161931/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/08/20/36/2082036_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=11 April 2014 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=4 December 2014 |title=UEFA Nations League format and schedule confirmed |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d7fc7c2817e-5938d745b7d6-1000--uefa-nations-league-format-and-schedule-confirmed/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}} the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League was linked with Euro qualifying, providing teams another chance to qualify for the tournament. Four teams from each division that had not already qualified for the European Championship competed in the play-offs for each division. The winners of the play-offs for each division, which were decided by two one-off semi-finals (the best-ranked team vs. the lowest-ranked team, and the second-best-ranked team vs. the third-best-ranked team, played at home of higher-ranked teams) and a one-off final (with the venue drawn in advance between the two semi-finals winners), joined the 20 teams that had already qualified for the tournament.

Of the 24 teams that qualified for the tournament, 19 were returning from the 2016 edition. Among them were Belgium and Italy, who both had recorded flawless qualifying campaigns (ten wins in ten matches),{{Cite web |date=18 November 2019 |title=Italy 9–1 Armenia: Roberto Mancini's side end qualifying on a high |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50467105 |access-date=21 November 2019 |website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web |date=19 November 2019 |title=Belgium 6–1 Cyprus: Roberto Martinez's side end qualifying with perfect record |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50479729 |access-date=21 November 2019 |website=BBC Sport}} defending European champions Portugal and world champions France, with Germany also qualifying for a record 13th straight European Championship.{{Cite news |date=19 November 2019 |title=UEFA EURO 2020: who has qualified for the final tournament? |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0256-0db422ecc788-fc419fd78f92-1000/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516144044/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0256-0db422ecc788-fc419fd78f92-1000/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2020 |access-date=21 November 2019}} Finland and North Macedonia made their European Championship debuts, having never previously qualified for a major tournament.{{Cite news |date=15 November 2019 |title=Finland qualify for Euro 2020 and first major tournament |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50440458 |access-date=15 November 2019}}{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Georgia 0–1 North Macedonia: Visitors qualify for first major tournament |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54923164 |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=BBC Sport}} Scotland, a co-host of the tournament, qualified for their first major international tournament since the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and their first European Championship since 1996.{{Cite web |last=Watt |first=Martin |date=12 November 2020 |title=Serbia 1–1 Scotland: Visitors win 5–4 on penalties to end 23-year finals wait |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54819938 |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=BBC Sport}} The Netherlands and Denmark returned after missing out in 2016, with the Dutch featuring in a major tournament for the first time since the 2014 FIFA World Cup.{{Cite news |date=16 November 2019 |title=Euro 2020 qualifier: Davis misses penalty as NI draw with Netherlands in Belfast |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50356229 |access-date=18 November 2019}}{{Cite web |date=18 November 2019 |title=Republic of Ireland 1–1 Denmark: Irish fall short despite late equaliser |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50408558 |access-date=18 November 2019 |website=BBC Sport}} For the first time, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Wales reached successive European Championship tournaments.{{Cite news |date=16 November 2019 |title=Große Europa-Party im Prater: Österreich bucht das EM-Ticket |language=German |trans-title=Big European party in the Prater: Austria books the European Championship ticket |work=Kurier |url=https://kurier.at/sport/fussball/fussball-liveblog-zum-em-quali-match-oesterreich-nordmazedonien/400677368 |access-date=20 November 2019}}{{Cite news |last=Dean |first=Sam |date=19 November 2019 |title=Aaron Ramsey-inspired Wales secure Euro 2020 qualification with victory over Hungary |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/11/19/aaron-ramsey-inspired-wales-secure-euro-2020-qualification-victory/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/11/19/aaron-ramsey-inspired-wales-secure-euro-2020-qualification-victory/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=20 November 2019}}{{cbignore}} Greece, winners in 2004, were the only former champions that failed to qualify, missing their second straight European Championship and third consecutive major tournament.{{Cite news |last=Kaperonis |first=Sarantos |date=27 November 2019 |title=How close were Greece to Euro 2020? |work=AGONAsport |url=https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/how-close-were-greece-to-euro-2020 |access-date=28 November 2019}} Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Romania failed to qualify after appearing in the 2016 finals.{{Cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |date=15 October 2020 |title=European Championship 2016 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2016e.html |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=RSSSF}}

Nine out of eleven host countries managed to qualify for the final tournament. Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, and Spain all qualified directly, while Hungary and Scotland qualified only after winning their respective play-off path. Azerbaijan and Romania failed to qualify, with Azerbaijan failing to qualify from the group stage and Romania losing in the play-off. The Republic of Ireland, one of the original host countries, also failed to qualify for the tournament after losing in the play-offs as well.{{Cite news |date=8 October 2020 |title=Euro 2020 play-offs: semi-final round-up |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0262-1090681cd9f4-a671a42080bd-1000/ |access-date=9 October 2020}} UEFA later announced with just two months to go before the tournament started, that Ireland was also stripped of their hosting duties, after another COVID-19 pandemic wave struck the country, killing over a thousand people in early 2021.{{Cite news |date=23 April 2021 |title=Change of venues for some UEFA Euro 2020 matches announced |publisher=UEFA |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-121bc78c82d5-1ba16401b4f0-1000/ |access-date=23 April 2021}}

As of 2024, this was the last time that Russia and Sweden qualified for either the World Cup or European Championship finals, and the last time Wales has qualified for a European Championship finals. It was also the only time Finland and North Macedonia qualified and the last time Albania, Georgia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia failed to qualify.

{{:UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying}}

The 13 original venues were selected and announced by UEFA on 19 September 2014.{{Cite web |date=19 September 2014 |title=Wembley to stage UEFA EURO 2020 final |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2151146.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140920005712/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2151146.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 September 2014 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}} However, the UEFA Executive Committee removed Brussels as a host city on 7 December 2017 due to delays with the building of Eurostadium. The four matches (three group stage, one round of 16) initially scheduled to be held in Brussels were reallocated to Wembley Stadium in London.{{Cite news |date=7 December 2017 |title=Euro 2020 to open in Rome, more London games, venues paired |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2525102.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207172424/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2525102.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 December 2017 |access-date=7 December 2017}} On 23 April 2021, UEFA announced that due to a lack of guarantees regarding spectators caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Aviva Stadium in Dublin was removed as a tournament host. Their four matches were reallocated to Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg for the three group stage matches, and Wembley Stadium in London for the round of 16 fixture. Similarly, UEFA reassigned the four matches in Spain elsewhere in the country, with Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville replacing San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.

On 7 December 2017, it was also announced that the opening match would take place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, chosen ahead of Amsterdam, Glasgow and Saint Petersburg. UEFA decided that the opening match would feature Italy if they qualified.{{Cite news |date=28 November 2017 |title=UEFA Executive Committee agenda for Nyon meeting |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/023f-0f8e599edb3b-5c2ebe82541e-1000--uefa-executive-committee-agenda-for-nyon-meeting/ |access-date=7 December 2017}}

Of the eleven selected cities and countries, seven cities and six countries had never hosted a European Championship finals match before. Seville was not a venue when Spain hosted the 1964 European Nations' Cup, and none of Azerbaijan, Denmark, Hungary, Romania, Russia or Scotland had hosted the tournament previously. Of the eleven selected stadiums, only two had hosted a European Championship match before: the Stadio Olimpico (1968 and 1980) and the Johan Cruyff Arena (2000). The original Wembley stadium hosted games and the final in UEFA Euro 1996, but although it stood on the same site, this was classified as a different stadium to the current Wembley Stadium.

Each city hosted three group stage matches and one match in the round of 16 or quarter-finals, with the exception of Saint Petersburg, which hosted six group stage matches, and London, which hosted two matches in the round of 16. The match allocation for the eleven stadiums is as follows:

• Group stage, round of 16, semi-finals and final: London (England)
• Group stage and quarter-finals: Baku (Azerbaijan), Munich (Germany), Rome (Italy), Saint Petersburg (Russia)
• Group stage and round of 16: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Copenhagen (Denmark), Glasgow (Scotland), Seville (Spain)

The host cities were divided into six pairings, established on the basis of sporting strength (assuming all host teams qualify), geographical considerations and security/political constraints. The pairings were allocated to groups by means of a random draw on 7 December 2017. Each qualified host country played a minimum of two matches at home. The following group venue pairings were announced:

• Group A: Rome (Italy) and Baku (Azerbaijan)
• Group B: Saint Petersburg (Russia) and Copenhagen (Denmark)
• Group C: Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Bucharest (Romania)
• Group D: London (England) and Glasgow (Scotland)
• Group E: Originally Bilbao (Spain) and Dublin (Republic of Ireland)
• Later changed to Seville (Spain) and Saint Petersburg (Russia){{efn|name=IRL|In April 2021, Dublin was removed as a tournament host, with their group stage matches reallocated to Saint Petersburg, who were already hosts of Group B.}}
• Group F: Munich (Germany) and Budapest (Hungary)

The following criteria applied to define the home matches of host teams within the same group:{{Cite web |date=24 September 2019 |title=European Qualifiers 2018–20 – Play-off Draw Procedure |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/EURO/02/62/53/04/2625304_DOWNLOAD.pdf |access-date=24 September 2019 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107235445/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/EURO/02/62/53/04/2625304_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=7 November 2019 |url-status=live }}

• If both host teams qualified directly or both advanced to the play-offs, a draw determined which team would play all three group stage matches at home (including the head-to-head match), and which one played only two matches at home.
• If one host team qualified directly, and the other failed to also directly qualify, the directly qualified host team played all three group stage matches at home, and the other host, if qualified, would play only two.
• If one host team advanced to the play-offs, and the other was eliminated, the host team in the play-offs, if qualified, had played all three group stage matches at home.
• No action was necessary should both host teams failed to have qualified.

If a host team in the play-offs failed to qualify, the path winner would take the spot of the host in the match schedule and therefore would play the two or three matches based on the above criteria in the host city of the respective host that failed to qualify. The draw took place on 22 November 2019, 12:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland (along with the draw for the play-offs).{{Cite news |date=5 September 2019 |title=UEFA EURO 2020: all you need to know |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2406536.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922130505/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2406536.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 September 2016 |access-date=25 September 2019}} In the draw, which was only necessary for Group B (Denmark and Russia), two balls were prepared, with the first drawn hosting the three matches.{{Cite web |date=21 November 2019 |title=European Qualifiers 2018–20 – Play-off Draw Procedure |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0257-0e07a5f6115c-76a3f95edbc5-1000/euro_play-off_draw_procedure.pdf |access-date=21 November 2019 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}

{{notelist}}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions on public gatherings, many of the venues at the tournament were unable to operate at full capacity. UEFA asked each host to devise a spectator plan in conjunction with their local/national government and health authorities. The hosts were given a deadline of 7 April 2021 to communicate their plans with UEFA. On 9 April, UEFA announced that eight of the tournament hosts had confirmed their stadium capacities, ranging from 25% to 100%. The remaining four hosts (Bilbao, Dublin, Munich and Rome) were given an extension until 23 April to submit their venue capacities. On 14 April, UEFA announced that Rome had also confirmed its venue capacity. On 23 April, the venue capacity for Munich was also confirmed, while Bilbao was replaced by Seville, which could guarantee spectators. In addition, Dublin was removed as a host, as it was unable to ensure spectators could attend.

Many of the matches did not see stadiums filled to their allowed capacity, with only Netherlands group stage matches that were played at the Johan Cruyff Arena seeing the stadium come within less than a thousand seats of being full. The match between England and Croatia saw an attendance of 18,497, compared to the allowed capacity of 22,500, with UEFA suggesting quarantine restrictions as the cause for the smaller attendance.{{Cite news |last=Davie |first=Chris |date=13 June 2021 |title=Fan in 'serious condition' after fall from stand at Wembley during England vs Croatia |work=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/fan-in-serious-condition-after-fall-from-stand-at-wembley-during-england-vs-croatia/ar-AAL0gPi |access-date=23 June 2021}}

Each team chose a "team base camp" for its stay between the matches. The teams trained and resided in these locations throughout the tournament, travelling to games staged away from their bases. Unlike previous tournaments, each team could set up their base camp anywhere due to the pan-European format, without any obligation of staying in any of the host countries.{{Cite news |date=25 January 2013 |title=Thirteen cities to host UEFA Euro 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7eeaa72dde-7e9c25c763b9-1000--twelve-cities-to-host-uefa-euro-2020/ |access-date=27 January 2020}}

The base camps selected by the 20 directly qualified teams were announced by UEFA on 27 January 2020. The base camps of the remaining teams qualified via the play-offs were announced in 2021.{{Cite news |date=17 May 2021 |title=Euro 2020: where will the teams be based? |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0259-0e8ea1e12265-1c20a6816e6c-1000/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516111149/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0259-0e8ea1e12265-1c20a6816e6c-1000/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2020 |access-date=26 May 2021}}

{{notelist}}

The draw for the final tournament was held on 30 November 2019, 18:00 CET (19:00 local time, EET) at Romexpo in Bucharest, Romania.{{Cite web |date=25 September 2017 |title=European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2020: how it works |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2502936.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925201257/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2502936.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 September 2017 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{Cite web |title=UEFA EURO 2020 final tournament draw: how it will work |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/draws/2020/2001024/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207132845/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/draws/2020/2001024/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 December 2019 |access-date=2 December 2018 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{Cite news |date=15 March 2019 |title=Bucharest to stage UEFA EURO 2020 finals draw |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2595870.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195243/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2595870.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 March 2019 |access-date=15 March 2019}}{{Cite news |date=27 September 2019 |title=UEFA EURO 2020 final tournament draw: All you need to know |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2622700.html |access-date=3 October 2019}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The 24 teams were drawn into six groups of four. The identity of the four play-off teams were not known at the time of the draw and were identified as play-off winners A to D.{{Cite web |date=November 2019 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 Final Tournament Draw Press Kit |url=https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/Download/competitions/General/02/63/51/33/2635133_DOWNLOAD.pdf |access-date=29 November 2019 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}} Should there have been groups that could not be finalised at the time of the final tournament draw, another draw would have been held after the play-offs on 1 April 2020, but UEFA confirmed the additional draw was not necessary after the identity of the 20 directly qualified teams and the 16 play-offs teams was known.

The teams were seeded in accordance with the European Qualifiers overall ranking based on their results in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying. The following was the standard composition of the draw pots:{{Cite web |date=24 September 2019 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 Final Draw Procedure |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/EURO/02/62/53/02/2625302_DOWNLOAD.pdf |access-date=24 September 2019 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}

• Pot 1: Group winners ranked 1–6
• Pot 2: Group winners ranked 7–10, group runners-up ranked 1–2 (11–12 overall)
• Pot 3: Group runners-up ranked 3–8 (13–18 overall)
• Pot 4: Group runners-up ranked 9–10 (19–20 overall), play-off winners A–D (identity unknown at the time of the draw)

As two host teams from the same group could not be in the same seeding pot, the UEFA Emergency Panel would have either switched one host team with the lowest-ranked team of the higher pot, or switched one host team with the highest-ranked team of the lower pot (based on the principle that the move would have minimal impact on the original seeding). However, no seeding adjustments were necessary.

The draw started with Pot 1 and completed with Pot 4, from where a team was drawn and assigned to the first available group. The position in the group (for the determination of the match schedule) was then drawn. In the draw, the following conditions applied (including for teams that could still qualify via the play-offs):{{Cite web |date=28 November 2019 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 Final Draw Procedure |url=https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/Download/competitions/General/02/63/38/43/2633843_DOWNLOAD.pdf |access-date=28 November 2019 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}

• Automatic group assignments: Host teams were automatically assigned to their group based on the host city pairings.
• Prohibited clashes: For political reasons, UEFA set pairs of teams that were considered prohibited clashes. In addition to being unable to be drawn into the same group, non-host teams were prevented from being drawn into a group hosted by a country they clash with, even should the host not qualify. Only one prohibited clash, Russia / Ukraine, applied during the group stage draw. Other prohibited clashes among qualified and play-off teams were Kosovo / Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo / Serbia, but the teams in these pairs were all in the play-offs and in Pot 4 for the draw, and would not be in the same group; Kosovo / Russia was also prohibited,{{Cite news |date=18 October 2019 |title=UEFA Emergency Panel decision on Kosovo/Russia |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0256-0f8e7106e59c-ab146d41340c-1000--uefa-emergency-panel-decision-on-kosovo-russia/ |access-date=18 October 2019}} but they also would not be in the same group due to play-off path pairings necessary for host allocation. However, these prohibited clashes would not be excluded for the knockout stage.

Due to the format of the play-offs, which made anticipating all possible scenarios impossible, the UEFA administration had to wait to solve issues relating to the final tournament draw until the completion of the qualifying group stage. It was not possible for UEFA to prevent one of the play-off paths from containing two host teams, resulting in Romania (Group C hosts) and Hungary (Group F hosts) being drawn together in Path A. Therefore, the winner of this play-off path needed to be assigned two groups in the final tournament draw. To allow for this, Path A was paired with Path D (which does not contain a host), therefore providing a clear scenario for each possible qualified team. A draw took place on 22 November 2019, 12:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland (along with the play-offs draw), which decided on the order of priority for the allocation of Path A to the final tournament groups.

Two balls were prepared containing the names of the two groups hosted by the teams in question (Group C and Group F for Romania and Hungary, respectively). The first ball drawn determined the group ("priority group") that was allocated to Path A, except for the host team of the second ball drawn ("non-priority group") winning Path A. In the draw, Group F was selected as the priority group, resulting in the following possible outcomes:

• Romania don't win Path A: The winner of Path A would enter Group F, and the winner of Path D would enter Group C. (As Romania lost in the semi-finals of the play-offs, this was the resulting group assignment.)
• Romania win Path A: Romania would enter Group C, and the winner of Path D would enter Group F.

The following was the composition of the pots, with teams divided and seeded as per their European Qualifiers overall ranking:{{Cite news |date=20 November 2019 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 final tournament draw pots confirmed |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0257-0e05cf76aaec-6602964740ad-1000/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103133216/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0257-0e05cf76aaec-6602964740ad-1000/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2020 |access-date=20 November 2019}}

|style="text-align:center"|1

|-

|{{fb|ITA}}

|{{small|Group A}}

|style="text-align:center"|2

|-

|{{fb|ENG}}

|{{small|Group D}}

|style="text-align:center"|3

|-

|{{fb|GER}}

|{{small|Group F}}

|style="text-align:center"|4

|-

|{{fb|ESP}}

|{{small|Group E}}

|style="text-align:center"|5

|-

|{{fb|UKR}}{{efn|name=Ukraine|Ukraine could not be drawn into the same group as Russia (Group B host). Since they also could not be drawn into any of the other four groups with Pot 1 hosts, Ukraine were assigned to Group C. Consequently, Belgium were assigned to Group B.}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|6

|}

|style="text-align:center"|7

|-

|{{fb|POL}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|8

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|{{fb|SUI}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|9

|-

|{{fb|CRO}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|10

|-

|{{fb|NED}}

|{{small|Group C}}

|style="text-align:center"|11

|-

|{{fb|RUS}}

|{{small|Group B}}

|style="text-align:center"|12

|}

|style="text-align:center"|13

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|{{fb|TUR}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|14

|-

|{{fb|DEN}}

|{{small|Group B}}

|style="text-align:center"|15

|-

|{{fb|AUT}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|16

|-

|{{fb|SWE}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|17

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|{{fb|CZE}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|18

|}

|style="text-align:center"|19

|-

|{{fb|FIN}}

|{{N/a|}}

|style="text-align:center"|20

|-

|Play-off winner A

|{{small|Group C & F}}{{efn|name=Path A|Romania (Group C host) and Hungary (Group F host) competed in play-off Path A, and thus the winner of Path A was assigned to two groups (Group C and Group F), with the final assignment depending on the identity of the Path A winner.}}

|style="text-align:center" rowspan="4" {{N/a}}

|-

|Play-off winner B

|{{small|Group E}}{{efn|name=Path B|Republic of Ireland (original Group E host) competed in play-off Path B, and thus the winner of Path B was assigned to Group E.}}

|-

|Play-off winner C

|{{small|Group D}}{{efn|name=Path C|Scotland (Group D host) competed in play-off Path C, and thus the winner of Path C was assigned to Group D.}}

|-

|Play-off winner D{{efn|name=Kosovo|Play-off Path D was paired with Path A (which contained two hosts), and thus the winner of Path D was assigned to two groups (Group C and Group F), with the final assignment depending on the identity of the Path A winner.}}

|{{N/a|}}

|}

{{notelist}}

The draw resulted in the following groups (teams in italics are play-off winners whose identity was not known at the time of the draw):

{{notelist}}

The fixtures for the group stage were decided based on the draw results, as follows:

Note: Positions for scheduling did not use the seeding pots, and instead used the draw positions, e.g. Team 1 was not necessarily the team from Pot 1 in the draw.

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 squads}}

To lessen the load on players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in case of an outbreak within a team, squad sizes were increased from 23 (used at every European Championship since 2004) to 26. However, the maximum number of players permitted on the match sheet for each tournament fixture remained 23. Each nation's squad, which had to include three goalkeepers, was submitted at least ten days before the opening match of the tournament (by 1 June 2021). If a player became injured or ill severely enough to prevent his participation in the tournament before his team's first match, he could be replaced by another player; however, goalkeepers could still be replaced after their team's first match due to physical incapacity.

On 27 September 2018, the UEFA Executive Committee approved the use of the video assistant referee (VAR) system for the first time at the UEFA European Championship. On 12 February 2020, UEFA and CONMEBOL signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration, including the possibility of a team of South American match officials appointed for the group stage of the tournament.{{Cite news |date=12 February 2020 |title=UEFA and CONMEBOL renew Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/025a-0f8e750f03eb-c31bab67cd9a-1000--uefa-and-conmebol-renew-memorandum-of-understanding-to-enha/ |access-date=12 February 2020}}

On 21 April 2021, UEFA announced the 19 refereeing teams for the tournament.{{Cite web |date=21 April 2021 |title=Referees and assistant referees |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0268-121825575945-25e91e643100-1000/referees_a4_vertical.pdf |access-date=21 April 2021 |website=UEFA}} This included Argentine referee Fernando Rapallini and his assistants, who were the first South American officials to be selected for the European Championship as part of UEFA's referee exchange programme with CONMEBOL. A group of Spanish officials were similarly selected for the 2021 Copa América.{{Cite news |date=21 April 2021 |title=Referee teams for UEFA Euro 2020 appointed |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-12182cf1475f-825d23faf300-1000/ |access-date=21 April 2021}}

A refereeing team of nine officials was appointed for each match. The team of five at the stadium consisted of a referee, two assistant referees, a fourth official and a reserve assistant referee. In addition, four video match officials were located at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. This team consisted of a video assistant referee (the lead video official who was the main point of contact with the referee), an assistant video assistant referee (AVAR 1, who concentrated on following the match), an offside VAR (AVAR 2, who reviewed all potential offside situations) and a support VAR (AVAR 3, who acted in a coordination capacity).{{Cite news |date=4 June 2021 |title=EURO 2020 VAR team based at UEFA HQ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/026a-12709695f2b6-d9057c552f37-1000/ |access-date=5 June 2021}} The tournament used the 2021 Laws of the Game, which came into force on 1 July but could be introduced in competitions that began immediately beforehand.{{Cite news |date=11 June 2021 |title=EURO referees given handball briefing |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0269-12544751db09-a629980be6a5-1000/ |access-date=11 June 2021}}

In addition, UEFA announced 22 video match officials and twelve support match officials (who acted as fourth official or reserve assistant referee). This included support referee Stéphanie Frappart, the first female official at the UEFA European Championship finals.

The opening ceremony took place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on 11 June 2021 at 20:35 (CEST) prior to the first match of the tournament. Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli performed the song "Nessun dorma".{{Cite news |date=11 June 2021 |title=Bocelli apre la cerimonia con 'Nessun dorma' |language=it |trans-title=Euro 2020, Andrea Bocelli opens the ceremony with 'Nessun dorma' |work=la Repubblica |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2021/06/11/news/andrea_bocelli_cantera_nessun_dorma_all_apertura_di_euro_2020-305355967/ |access-date=11 June 2021}} Martin Garrix, Bono and the Edge also featured, performing the tournament's official anthem, "We Are the People". The performance was a virtual one amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and was filmed at motion-control studios in London and at the Stadio Olimpico to recreate the stadium environment in 3D.{{Cite web |date=11 June 2021 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 to kick off with virtual performance of We Are The People |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/026a-127abe1d0c8a-99c683a480b3-1000/ |access-date=11 June 2021 |website=UEFA}}

[[File:UEFA Euro 2020 map.png|thumb|upright=1.8|Result of teams participating in UEFA Euro 2020

{{col-begin}} {{col-3}}{{legend|#2B42A3|Winner}} {{legend|#34B0BE|Runner-up}} {{col-3}}{{legend|#81C846|Semi-finals}} {{legend|#E4E454|Quarter-finals}}{{col-3}}{{legend|#ff9f40|Round of 16}}{{legend|#B94954|Group stage}}{{col-end}}]]

UEFA announced the original tournament schedule on 24 May 2018, which only included kick-off times for the opening match and quarter-finals onward.{{Cite news |date=24 May 2018 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 match schedule confirmed |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2560574.html |url-status=dead |access-date=24 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712111229/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2560574.html |archive-date=12 July 2018}}{{Cite web |date=24 May 2018 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 match schedule: May 2018 |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/56/07/72/2560772_DOWNLOAD.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524222133/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/56/07/72/2560772_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=24 May 2018 |access-date=24 May 2018 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}} The kick-off times of the remaining group stage and round of 16 matches were announced on 30 November 2019 following the final draw.{{Cite web |date=30 November 2019 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 match schedule |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/63/56/69/2635669_DOWNLOAD.pdf |access-date=30 November 2019 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204141227/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/63/56/69/2635669_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=4 December 2019 |url-status=live }} On 17 June 2020, UEFA announced the revised match schedule for the tournament in 2021.{{Cite news |date=17 June 2020 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 match schedule |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0254-0d41684d1216-06773df7faed-1000/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516144042/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0254-0d41684d1216-06773df7faed-1000/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2020 |access-date=17 June 2020}}{{Cite web |date=17 June 2020 |title=UEFA Euro 2020: 2021 match schedule |url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/EURO/02/64/21/93/2642193_DOWNLOAD.pdf |access-date=17 June 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617192340/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/EURO/02/64/21/93/2642193_DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2020 |url-status=live }} All match dates, kick-off times and venues remained identical, but shifted one day earlier so matches would remain on the same day of the week (i.e. from 12 to 11 June for the opening match to remain on a Friday). On 23 April 2021, UEFA revised the venue assignments of the match schedule after one stadium was removed from the tournament and another was replaced.{{Cite web |date=May 2021 |title=UEFA Euro 2020: 2021 match schedule |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0269-1235cbcf229a-a665bdf96d2c-1000/euro_match_schedule.pdf |access-date=12 May 2021 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507201505/https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0269-1235cbcf229a-a665bdf96d2c-1000/euro_match_schedule.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Group winners, runners-up, and the best four third-placed teams advanced to the round of 16.

Times are CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA. If the venue was located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.

If two or more teams were equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following tie-breaking criteria were applied:

1. Higher number of points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;
2. Superior goal difference resulting from the matches played between the teams in question;
3. Higher number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question;
4. If, after having applied criteria 1 to 3, teams still had an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 3 were reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams who were still level to determine their final rankings.{{efn|If there was a three-way tie on points, the application of the first three criteria could only break the tie for one of the teams, leaving the other two teams still tied. In this case, the tiebreaking procedure was resumed, from the beginning, for the two teams that were still tied.}} If this procedure did not lead to a decision, criteria 5 to 10 applied;
5. Superior goal difference in all group matches;
6. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
7. Higher number of wins in all group matches;{{efn|This criterion could only break a tie if a point deduction were to occur, as multiple teams in the same group could not otherwise be tied on points but have a different number of wins.}}
8. If on the last round of the group stage, two teams were facing each other and each had the same number of points, as well as the same number of goals scored and conceded, and the score finished level in their match, their ranking was determined by a penalty shoot-out. (This criterion was not used if more than two teams had the same number of points.);
9. Lower disciplinary points total in all group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card whenever it was a straight red or two yellows, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card);
10. Higher position in the European Qualifiers overall ranking.

Notes

{{notelist}}

File:The Stadio Olimpico during EURO 2020.jpg

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{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=third

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Wins; 5) Lower disciplinary points total; 6) European Qualifiers overall ranking.

|source=[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/026a-1290cbb79913-c5861b2a3aa0-1000/ UEFA]

|team_order=GrF, GrD, GrA, GrC, GrB, GrE

|update=complete

|win_GrA=1 |draw_GrA=1 |loss_GrA=1 |gf_GrA=4 |ga_GrA=5

|win_GrB=1 |draw_GrB=0 |loss_GrB=2 |gf_GrB=1 |ga_GrB=3

|win_GrC=1 |draw_GrC=0 |loss_GrC=2 |gf_GrC=4 |ga_GrC=5

|win_GrD=1 |draw_GrD=1 |loss_GrD=1 |gf_GrD=3 |ga_GrD=2

|win_GrE=1 |draw_GrE=0 |loss_GrE=2 |gf_GrE=2 |ga_GrE=7

|win_GrF=1 |draw_GrF=1 |loss_GrF=1 |gf_GrF=7 |ga_GrF=6

|name_GrA={{fb|SUI}}

|name_GrB={{fb|FIN}}

|name_GrC={{fb|UKR}}

|name_GrD={{fb|CZE}}

|name_GrE={{fb|SVK}}

|name_GrF={{fb|POR}}

|show_groups=T

|group_GrA=A

|group_GrB=B

|group_GrC=C

|group_GrD=D

|group_GrE=E

|group_GrF=F

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=KO |result2=KO |result3=KO |result4=KO

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knockout stage

}}

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 knockout stage}}

File:Sergio Mattarella meets Italy national football team and Matteo Berrettini (12 July 2021) 01.jpg

In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each), with each team being allowed to make a sixth substitution. If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out.

As with every tournament since UEFA Euro 1984, there was no third place play-off.

Times is CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA. If the venue was located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.

{{clear}}

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2020 knockout stage|Bracket}}

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{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 final}}

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2020 final|Final}}

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 statistics}}

File:2020 UEFA Euro Topscorer Award CR7Museum.jpg Top Scorer award.]]

File:Cristiano Ronaldo WC2022 - 01 (cropped).jpg won the top scorer award after scoring five goals in the tournament.]]

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2020 statistics|Goalscorers}}

{{see also|UEFA European Championship awards}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Donnarumma

| RB = Walker

| RCB = Bonucci

| LCB = Maguire

| LB = Spinazzola

| RM = Højbjerg

| CM = Jorginho

| LM = Pedri

| RF = Chiesa

| CF = Lukaku

| LF = Sterling

| caption = UEFA Team of the Tournament{{Cite tweet |number=1414881871167688707 |user=EURO2020 |title=Introducing the official Team of the Tournament for Euro 2020 |author=Union of European Football Associations |author-link=UEFA |date=13 July 2021 |access-date=13 July 2021}}

}}

UEFA Team of the Tournament

UEFA's technical observer team was given the objective of naming a team of the best eleven players from the tournament. Five players from the winning Italian squad were named in the team.{{Cite news |date=13 July 2021 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament revealed |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026b-12be97f0eb56-3ce3b8794fa7-1000/ |access-date=13 July 2021}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Player of the Tournament

The Player of the Tournament award was given to Gianluigi Donnarumma, the first goalkeeper to win the award, who was chosen by UEFA's technical observers.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2021 |title=Gianluigi Donnarumma named Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026b-12bbaca60278-20409c108613-1000/ |access-date=11 July 2021}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

• {{fbicon|ITA}} Gianluigi Donnarumma

Young Player of the Tournament

The Young Player of the Tournament award, open to players born on or after 1 January 1998, was given to Pedri, as chosen by UEFA's technical observers.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2021 |title=Pedri named Euro 2020 Young Player of the Tournament |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026b-12bbae1185ee-16613a63959a-1000/ |access-date=11 July 2021}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

• {{fbicon|ESP}} Pedri – {{birth date and age2|2021|7|11|2002|11|25|df=y}}

Top Scorer

The "Alipay Top Scorer" award, given to the top scorer of the tournament, was awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored five goals and recorded one assist.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2021 |title=Cristiano Ronaldo wins Euro 2020 Alipay Top Scorer award |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026b-12bba1451d65-5786b2cf1519-1000/ |access-date=11 July 2021}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The ranking was determined using the following criteria: goals, assists, fewest minutes played and goals in qualifying.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2021 |title=Alipay Top Scorer |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/top-scorer/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Goal of the Tournament

The Goal of the Tournament was decided by online voting. A total 10 goals were in the shortlist. On 14 July 2021, after an open vote with over 800,000 entries, UEFA announced that Czech forward Patrik Schick's second goal against Scotland had been named the goal of the tournament.{{cite news |date=14 July 2021 |title=Patrik Schick wins UEFA Euro 2020 Goal of the Tournament |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026b-12bee5573e30-07a21f6d1f12-1000/ |access-date=14 July 2021 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

• {{fbicon|CZE}} Patrik Schick (second goal vs Scotland)

The prize money was finalised in February 2018. Each team received a participation fee of €9.25 million, with the winner able to earn a maximum of €34 million.{{Cite web |date=26 February 2018 |title=Record €775.5m for UEFA member associations via HatTrick V |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0242-0f8e5ddc5f35-3e31a33b54df-1000/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}

A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:

• Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious offences)
• Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches;{{efn-ua|As yellow cards are not carried forward to penalty shoot-outs, players may be shown two yellow cards in the same fixture without being sent off. However, this would result in a suspension for accumulating two yellow cards during the tournament.}} yellow cards expired after the completion of the quarter-finals (yellow card suspensions were not carried forward to any other future international matches)

The following players earned a suspension during the tournament:{{Cite web |date=20 June 2021 |title=Booking List before Final tournament Matchday 3 |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/026a-12906016dbcf-9840b77b7dae-1000/euro_2020_booking_list_before_md3_group_a-b-c-d-e-f.pdf |access-date=20 June 2021 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624091313/https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/026a-12906016dbcf-9840b77b7dae-1000/euro_2020_booking_list_before_md3_group_a-b-c-d-e-f.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=24 June 2021 |title=Booking List before Round of 16 |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/026a-1298496d2742-43dab0b0702b-1000/euro_2020_booking_list_before_round_of_16.pdf |access-date=26 June 2021 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-date=26 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626210419/https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/026a-1298496d2742-43dab0b0702b-1000/euro_2020_booking_list_before_round_of_16.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=30 June 2021 |title=Booking List before Quarter-finals |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/026a-12a4e637bb21-cae9246a75ac-1000/euro_2020_booking_list_before_qf_final_20210630165403.pdf |access-date=2 July 2021 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182221/https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/026a-12a4e637bb21-cae9246a75ac-1000/euro_2020_booking_list_before_qf_final_20210630165403.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{notelist-ua}}

The official logo was unveiled on 21 September 2016, during a ceremony at the City Hall in London. The logo depicted the Henri Delaunay Trophy surrounded by celebrating fans on a bridge, which, according to UEFA, represented how football connects and unifies people.{{Cite news |date=20 September 2016 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 logo unveiled |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d81b6ea20f8-672f1f20c3e2-1000--uefa-euro-2020-logo-unveiled/ |access-date=25 September 2019}}{{Cite news |last=Tarn |first=Sam |date=21 September 2016 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 identity revealed in London |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |location=London |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2406718.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921125011/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2406718.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 September 2016 |access-date=25 September 2019}}

Each individual host city also had their own unique logo. The rectangular logos featured the text UEFA EURO 2020 on the top, the city name above the text host city on the bottom (all in uppercase), the main tournament logo on the left and a local bridge on the right. Each logo existed in English, along with variations in the local language when applicable. The logos were unveiled from September 2016 to January 2017.

{{notelist}}

The official slogan of the tournament was "Live It. For Real." The slogan was meant to encourage fans to see the matches live in the stadiums across Europe.{{Cite news |date=19 May 2019 |title=Live It. For Real: Attractive ticket offer for UEFA Euro 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2605409.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109031736/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid%3D2605409.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 November 2019 |access-date=25 September 2019}}

File:4-adidas-euro-2020-ball-min.jpg

On 6 November 2019, UEFA announced that the "Adidas Uniforia" would be the tournament's official match ball. Predominantly white, the ball featured black strokes with blue, neon and pink stripes with panels designed to resemble a hashtag, and had the coordinates of twelve cities which hosted the finals (including Dublin and Bilbao, which were later removed as the host cities). The name was derived from a portmanteau of "unity" and "euphoria".{{Cite news |date=6 November 2019 |title=adidas unveils Uniforia official match ball for UEFA Euro 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0257-0f8e7184019e-4d1b1aa9f8e6-1000--adidas-unveils-uniforia-official-match-ball-for-uefa-euro/ |access-date=6 November 2019}}

A special variation named "Adidas Uniforia Finale" was launched on 5 July 2021, to be used in both semi-finals and the final match. The ball had a silver base, a different colour arrangement, and Wembley Stadium's coordinates (51° 33' 21,5" N, 0° 16' 46,4" W) written on the ball.

File:Uniforia Finale.jpg

The official mascot of the tournament, "Skillzy", was unveiled on 24 March 2019. The character was inspired by freestyle football, street football, and panna culture.{{Cite news |date=24 March 2019 |title=Euro 2020 mascot revealed... now it's your move |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2596712.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409185716/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid%3D2596712.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 April 2019 |access-date=24 March 2019}}

{{main|We Are the People (Martin Garrix song)}}

On 19 October 2019, Dutch DJ and music producer Martin Garrix was announced as the official music artist of the tournament.{{Cite news |date=19 October 2019 |title=Martin Garrix to provide sound of UEFA Euro 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=2628499.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226113245/https://www.uefa.com/news/newsid%3D2628499.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 December 2019 |access-date=7 November 2019}} He produced the official song of the tournament, as well as the walkout music preceding matches and the television broadcast music.{{Cite news |date=20 October 2019 |title=Global superstar DJ and producer Martin Garrix to provide sound of UEFA Euro 2020 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0256-0f8e711444f8-52078a1ab9b9-1000--global-superstar-dj-and-producer-martin-garrix-to-provid/ |access-date=6 November 2019}} The official song, "We Are the People", featured Bono and the Edge from Irish rock band U2 and was released on 14 May 2021.{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=13 May 2021 |title=Hear Martin Garrix's New Song 'We Are the People,' Featuring Bono and the Edge |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/martin-garrixs-song-we-are-the-people-featuring-bono-the-edge-1169353/ |access-date=13 May 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite web |date=14 May 2021 |title=UEFA Euro 2020 official song We Are The People released by Martin Garrix, featuring Bono and The Edge |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0269-1245cdd041ef-e157b0709f25-1000/ |access-date=23 May 2021 |website=UEFA}} It was first performed in full at a virtual opening ceremony at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

{{see also|UEFA European Championship video games}}

The game was released by Konami as a free DLC on eFootball PES 2020 in June 2020, and on the eFootball PES 2021 Season Update on launch day. It included the official kits and player likenesses for all 55 officially licensed UEFA teams. The update also included five out of eleven venues of the tournament, as well as the official match ball.{{Cite web |title=New Data Pack (7.00)/Patch (1.07.00) Available! |url=https://www.konami.com/wepes/2020/eu/en/ps4/topic/game-wepes2020-19790 |access-date=6 June 2020 |website=Konami}}{{Cite news |date=4 June 2020 |title=PES 2020 Euro 2020 DLC: Release Date, Content, Trailer, Data Pack 7.0, Patch Notes, Stadiums & more |work=RealSport101 |url=https://realsport101.com/pes/pes-2020-euro-2020-dlc-arriving-in-game-release-date-data-pack-7-0-patch-update-teams-stadiums-kits-player-faces-wembley/ |access-date=2 October 2020}}

UEFA had the following sponsorship partners:{{Cite web |title=Partners |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/sponsors/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608104325/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/sponsors/ |archive-date=8 June 2021 |access-date=16 June 2021 |website=UEFA}}

• "National Team Football Official Sponsors": Alibaba Group (Alipay brand),{{Cite web |date=9 November 2018 |title=Alipay signs long-term deal to become UEFA national team football sponsor |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/024b-0f8e654a02d0-38a38ea72980-1000--alipay-signs-long-term-deal-to-become-uefa-national-team-f/ |access-date=5 December 2018 |website=UEFA}} Booking Holdings,{{Cite web |date=19 October 2017 |title=UEFA announces global deal with Booking.com |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2511295.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019131435/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2511295.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2017 |access-date=5 December 2018 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}} FedEx,{{Cite web |date=8 April 2019 |title=Euro 2020 nets logistics partner as FedEx signs Uefa deal |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/euro-2020-fedex-uefa-sponsorship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805194513/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/euro-2020-fedex-uefa-sponsorship |archive-date=5 August 2019 |access-date=23 April 2019 |website=Sportspromedia.com |publisher=SportsPro}} Gazprom,{{Cite web |date=19 May 2021 |title=Gazprom partners with UEFA National Team Football and renews UEFA Champions League sponsorship |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0269-124ffe0cee51-2308c1da4764-1000/ |access-date=23 May 2021 |website=UEFA}} Hisense,{{Cite web |title=Hisense® aims higher with Global Sponsorship of UEFA Euro 2020™ |url=http://www.techplugged.com/hisense-aims-higher-with-global-sponsorship-of-uefa-euro-2020/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423184321/http://www.techplugged.com/hisense-aims-higher-with-global-sponsorship-of-uefa-euro-2020/ |archive-date=23 April 2019 |access-date=23 April 2019 |website=TechPlugged}} and Volkswagen.{{Cite web |date=9 August 2017 |title=Volkswagen becomes new UEFA national team football competitions partner |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/023c-0f8e55b047c1-ed32e79356fb-1000--volkswagen-becomes-new-uefa-national-team-football-compe/ |access-date=5 December 2018 |website=UEFA}}
• "Euro 2020 Official Sponsors": Coca-Cola,{{Cite web |date=5 September 2019 |title=Coca-Cola signs on as UEFA Euro 2020 sponsor |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0255-0f8e6f0333ed-22fe305a8c25-1000--coca-cola-signs-on-as-uefa-euro-2020-sponsor/ |access-date=5 September 2019 |website=UEFA}} Heineken,{{Cite web |date=13 November 2019 |title=Heineken partners with UEFA Euro 2020 and renews UEFA Champions League sponsorship |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0257-0e9a0b4d3e80-2eab98e688fc-1000--heineken-partners-with-uefa-euro-2020-and-renews-uefa-cha/ |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=UEFA}} Qatar Airways,{{Cite web |date=22 February 2021 |title=Qatar Airways becomes official airline of UEFA Euro 2020 |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0266-11a31461980c-9a29aa01290e-1000/ |access-date=22 February 2021 |website=UEFA}} Takeaway.com,{{Cite web |date=13 November 2019 |title=Takeaway.com and UEFA announce global UEFA Euro 2020 partnership |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0257-0f8e71b21126-d86c34ed2d48-1000--takeaway-com-and-uefa-announce-global-uefa-euro-2020-partne/ |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=UEFA}} TikTok,{{Cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=TikTok becomes official UEFA Euro 2020 sponsor |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0266-118d1c6ac1b5-4ffce41d08de-1000/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |website=UEFA}} and Vivo Mobile.{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=vivo becomes official partner of UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024 |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0262-10a7e6283cfe-39c5c148caf4-1000/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=UEFA}}
• "Euro 2020 Official Licensees": Adidas, Hublot, IMG, Konami, and Panini.

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 broadcasting rights}}

The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) was located at the Expo Haarlemmermeer in Vijfhuizen, Netherlands.{{Cite news |date=30 November 2018 |title=UEFA to host the UEFA Euro 2020 international broadcast centre in the Netherlands |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/024b-0f8e661943dd-c1071d6a7656-1000--uefa-to-host-the-uefa-euro-2020-international-broadcast-/ |access-date=2 December 2018}}

The team of Ukraine presented its shirt for the championship, decorated with a map of national borders, including Crimea. The peninsula was annexed by the Russian Federation in 2014 but is still considered part of its territory by Ukraine and the United Nations. The shirt carried the slogan "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!" Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that it was a Ukrainian nationalist slogan that imitated a Nazi one. Russian Deputy Dmitry Svishchev called UEFA to intervene because the shirt was "totally inappropriate".{{Cite news |date=7 June 2020 |title=Ukraine's Euro 2020 football kit provokes outrage in Russia |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57379875 |agency=BBC News |accessdate=15 July 2021}} UEFA said there was no dispute for the map of Ukraine, as it reflected the borders recognized by the United Nations, while it ordered the removal of the phrase, as "specific combination of the two slogans is deemed to be clearly political in nature, having historic and militaristic significance."{{Cite news |date=10 June 2021 |title=UEFA orders Ukraine to remove phrase 'Glory to the heroes' on the inside of Euro 2020 shirt |agency=Sky Sports |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/23824/12329265/uefa-orders-ukraine-to-remove-phrase-glory-to-the-heroes-on-the-inside-of-euro-2020-shirt |accessdate=2 July 2021}}

The Denmark vs Finland match in Group B was suspended minutes prior to half-time after Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. He was given immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, then transferred to Rigshospitalet and stabilised, with the match resuming by the decision of the Danish team later that evening.{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Andrew |date=12 June 2021 |title=Denmark's Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field against Finland. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/12/sports/soccer/denmark-christian-eriksen-collapse.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/12/sports/soccer/denmark-christian-eriksen-collapse.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |url-access=limited |access-date=12 June 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news |last=Karen |first=Mattias |date=12 June 2021 |title=Denmark game at Euro 2020 suspended after Eriksen collapses |work=Associated Press |location=Copenhagen |url=https://apnews.com/article/denmark-europe-euro-2020-soccer-international-soccer-9911d934556c6b181636f47dedf20888 |accessdate=12 June 2021}}{{Cite web |date=13 June 2021 |title=Christian Eriksen: Denmark midfielder suffered cardiac arrest, says team doctor |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57458630 |access-date=13 June 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}

Following the match, the Danish team stated that it was unfair they had to decide to continue playing the match.{{Cite web |date=14 June 2021 |title=Denen boos dat ze op EK na hartstilstand bij Christian Eriksen voor het blok werden gezet over doorspelen |url=https://www.limburger.nl/cnt/dmf20210614_95039687 |website=De Limburger Mobile |language=nl |accessdate=27 June 2021}} Former Danish international Peter Schmeichel said that the Danish team had been given the options to finish the game that same day, finish the game the next day at 12 pm, or forfeit the game and lose 3–0. UEFA denied that either team had been threatened with a forfeit.{{Cite web |title=Peter Schmeichel: Denmark players did not have choice with Finland restart after Christian Eriksen collapse |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/17248/12332297/peter-schmeichel-denmark-players-did-not-have-choice-with-finland-restart-after-christian-eriksen-collapse |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite news |last=Christenson |first=Marcus |date=2021-06-13 |title='Ridiculous': Peter Schmeichel criticises Uefa over restarting Denmark game |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/13/peter-schmeichel-criticises-uefa-over-restarting-denmark-game |access-date=2024-06-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Westwood |first=James |date=2023-09-19 |title=UEFA threatened Denmark with 3-0 forfeit if they did not resume Euro 2020 clash after Eriksen cardiac arrest, claims Schmeichel {{!}} Goal.com US |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/uefa-threatened-denmark-with-3-0-forfeit-if-they-did-not-resume-euro-2020-clash-after-eriksen-cardiac-arrest-claims-schmeichel/1cynq41n01bd51xtlhqqvtojlk |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=www.goal.com |language=en-US}}

British broadcaster BBC received over 6,000 complaints over the UEFA video-feed broadcasting live images of Eriksen receiving CPR on the pitch.{{Cite news |title=BBC receives 6,417 complaints for broadcasting Christian Eriksen collapse |work=BBC News |date=24 June 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57600807 |access-date=7 July 2021 |agency=BBC News}}{{Cite web |title=Christian Eriksen: BBC receive 6,417 complaints for cardiac arrest coverage |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/christian-eriksen-bbc-coverage-complaints-b942513.html |access-date=7 July 2021 |website=Evening Standard|date=24 June 2021 }} Eriksen was later fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, and returned to playing with Brentford eight months later.{{cite web | last=Wolinsky | first=Howard | title=Study: Many Sudden Cardiac Deaths in Young People Avoidable | website=Medscape | date=15 September 2022 | url=https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/980870}}

In the Austria vs North Macedonia match on 13 June 2021, Austrian player Marko Arnautović insulted Macedonian player Ezgjan Alioski and his family after his goal to make it 3–1. Arnautović is of Serbian descent, and Alioski is of Albanian descent; both countries have been in conflict over Kosovo for decades. The Football Federation of North Macedonia lodged a complaint with UEFA after the game, demanding a clear penalty. The UEFA Control Committee then opened an investigation, Arnautović was banned from the next game by UEFA for "insulting another player", and was unable to play in Netherlands vs Austria, the group's second game.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2021 |title=UEFA greift durch: Arnautovic gesperrt |language=de |trans-title=UEFA takes action: Arnautovic locked |work=Kicker |url=https://www.kicker.de/uefa-greift-durch-arnautovic-gesperrt-807510/artikel |access-date=16 June 2021}}

At a press conference before Hungary vs Portugal on 14 June 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo removed Coca-Cola bottles from the table and then held a water bottle in front of the camera to highlight that water, healthier than Coca-Cola, is his ideal drink;{{Cite news |last=Salmon |first=Lisa |date=15 June 2021 |title=We're with Cristiano Ronaldo – there's nothing better than water |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/cristiano-ronaldo-nhs-water-portuguese-hungary-b1866435.html |accessdate=8 July 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Dan |date=15 June 2021 |title='Drink water!' – Ronaldo shuns Coca-Cola with unexpected health advice in Euro 2020 press conference |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/drink-water-ronaldo-shuns-coca-cola-with-unexpected-health/1kj45nus81kut1szgy1gx7cmyo |website=Goal |accessdate=8 July 2021}} it was thought that Ronaldo's actions were behind the collapse of Coca-Cola market value, but it was later found it had nothing to do with it.{{cite news |title=Cristiano Ronaldo snub wipes billions off Coca-Cola's market value |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/16/cristiano-ronaldo-snubs-coca-cola-billions-wiped-off-drink-giants-market-value |access-date=16 June 2021 |work=The Guardian |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=16 June 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210616231128/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/16/cristiano-ronaldo-snubs-coca-cola-billions-wiped-off-drink-giants-market-value |archive-date=16 June 2021 |language=English}}{{cite web |title=Corrections and clarifications {{!}} 22 June 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jun/22/corrections-and-clarifications |website=The Guardian |access-date=8 June 2024 |language=English |date=22 June 2021}}{{cite news |author1=Weber, Klaus |title=Kursabsturz bei Coca Cola – Ronaldos Grätsche – die keine war |trans-title=Share price crash at Coca Cola – Ronaldo's tackle – which wasn't |url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/ronaldo-coca-cola-aktie-100.html |access-date=23 June 2021 |agency=ZDF |date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210621232727/https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/ronaldo-coca-cola-aktie-100.html |archive-date=21 June 2021 |language=German}} After France vs Germany, France's Paul Pogba, a practising Muslim,{{Cite news |date=11 June 2019 |title=Pogba opens up on his Muslim faith and being a 'better person' |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/paul-pogba-manchester-united-muslim-mecca-ramadan-islam-a8953761.html |accessdate=15 July 2021}} moved bottles of non-alcoholic Heineken beer from the table at a press conference.{{Cite news |last=Matchett |first=Karl |date=16 June 2021 |title=Paul Pogba follows Cristiano Ronaldo by removing sponsored drink from Euro 2020 press conference |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/paul-pogba-cristiano-ronaldo-euro-2020-b1866912.html |accessdate=15 July 2021}} After these two actions, UEFA spoke with each team participating in the European Championship, in which it pointed out the importance of sponsors. UEFA also said that if it happened again, then punishments would be given out to those players.{{Cite news |date=17 June 2021 |title=UEFA greift im Flaschen-Gate ein |language=de |trans-title=UEFA reacts after 'Colagate' by Ronaldo |work=Sport1 |url=https://www.sport1.de/fussball/em/2021/06/em-2021-uefa-reagiert-nach-cola-gate-von-ronaldo |accessdate=17 June 2021}}

In the run-up to the France vs Germany on 15 June 2021 in Munich, a man with a paramotor got stuck on a fixed rope during a flight over the stadium, fell into a descent, grazed the spectator stands, and landed on the pitch. In the action planned as a protest by Greenpeace against car manufacturer Volkswagen, in which only a large ball with a label was supposed to be thrown onto the field, two people in the stands suffered head injuries and had to receive medical care.{{Cite news |last=Nahar |first=Chaled |date=15 June 2021 |title=Missglückte Greenpeace-Aktion bei DFB-Spiel – zwei Menschen verletzt |language=de |trans-title=Unsuccessful Greenpeace action at a German game – two people injured |work=Sportschau |url=https://www.sportschau.de/fussball/uefaeuro2020/uefa-em-euro-frankreich-deutschland-gleitschirm-fallschirm-greenpeace-protest-verletzte-protest-oel-100.html |accessdate=15 June 2021}} The campaign provoked strong criticism due to the endangerment of viewers; UEFA criticised it as a "reckless and dangerous action" that could have had serious consequences for many people.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2021 |title=Greenpeace: Zwei Verletzte bei missglückter Protestaktion vor EM-Spiel |language=de |trans-title=Greenpeace: Two injured in unsuccessful protest action before EM game |work=Zeit Online |url=https://www.zeit.de/sport/2021-06/greenpeace-em-protestaktion-unfall-verletzte-volkswagen |accessdate=16 June 2021}} The German Football Association (DFB), the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, and other politicians made similar statements, and Greenpeace apologised. A total flight ban was issued over the stadium for the duration of the European Championship. The Munich police investigated the paramotor pilot for dangerous bodily harm, trespassing, and violation of the Aviation Act.{{Cite news |title=Nach Greenpeace-Aktion permanent Hubschrauber in der Luft |language=de |trans-title=Helicopter in the air permanently after Greenpeace-action |work=Regio-Journal |url=https://www.regio-journal.info/sport/fussball/nach-greenpeace-aktion-permanent-hubschrauber-in-der-luft |accessdate=16 June 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Jolly |first=Jasper |date=16 June 2021 |title=Paul Pogba moves sponsor's beer from view at Euro 2020 news conference |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/16/paul-pogba-moves-sponsors-beer-from-view-at-euro-2020-news-conference |accessdate=16 June 2021}} The 40 year old pilot was later convicted of endangering air traffic and negligent bodily harm and fined €7,200 for parachuting into the stadium and a further €3,500 in damages to one of the people who were injured, while another 36-year-old man who helped to organise the protest was ordered to pay a fine of €3,000.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-11 |title=A Greenpeace activist is fined for crash-landing a parachute in stadium before Germany-France match |url=https://apnews.com/article/germany-soccer-football-greenpeace-dd49939fc7cbd80fa2b3d7f6adb1a72a |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=AP News |language=en}}

In connection with Pride Month, the German team used related symbolism. Team captain Manuel Neuer wore a captain's armband in rainbow colours in a friendly against Latvia on 7 June and continued to wear the armband in Germany's subsequent games. An investigation by UEFA followed during the group stage of the tournament. They assessed the armband as a "team symbol for diversity" and "a good cause." UEFA decided not to impose a penalty because of the rule broken by Neuer, which obliges team captains to wear UEFA captains' armbands.{{Cite news |title=After Uefa review: Newcomer may continue to wear rainbow bandage |language=de |publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/neuer-regenbogenbinde-kapitaensbinde-uefa-ueberpruefung-1.5328170 |access-date=21 June 2021}}

File:Allianz Arena Beleuchtung zum Christopher Street Day 2016.jpg

Before the Germany vs Hungary group stage match on 23 June 2021, Munich City Council applied to UEFA to have the façade of the stadium illuminated in rainbow colours as a sign of diversity and tolerance. Since the project was understood as a protest against a law passed by the Hungarian Parliament that, according to its critics, restricts the "information rights" of young people with regard to homosexuality and gender transitioning,{{Cite news |last=Pfeil |first=Gerhard |title=Debate about Munich stadium in rainbow colours: Doesn't Uefa want to snub Orbán? |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/fussball-em-2021-debatte-um-muenchner-stadion-in-regenbogenfarben-sie-wollen-orban-nicht-brueskieren-a-6e3ab606-b188-4a5d-9f77-72e147573802 |access-date=22 June 2021}} UEFA rejected the application with reference to its status as a politically and religiously neutral organisation.{{Cite news |title=UEFA: Stadium must not shine in rainbow colors |language=de |work=Tagesschau |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/eilmeldung/uefa-zu-regenbogenfarben-101.html |access-date=22 June 2021}} After initially approving the illumination of the stadium in rainbow colours, the German Football Association joined the UEFA position. The Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter criticised these decisions and described the illumination not as a political measure but as what he called a sign of humanity and a symbol for the acceptance of equality between people.{{Cite news |date=22 June 2021 |title=Arena ohne Regenbogenfarben: UEFA sagt Nein |language=de |trans-title=Arena without rainbow colors: UEFA says no |agency=BR |url=https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/uefa-sagt-nein-allianz-arena-nicht-in-regenbogenfarben,Sb3PENt |accessdate=22 June 2021}} In contrast, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó welcomed UEFA's decision "not to be involved in a political provocation against Hungary."{{Cite news |date=22 June 2021 |title=DFB boss Koch defends the ban imposed by UEFA |language=de |work=Kicker |url=https://www.kicker.de/dfb-boss-koch-defends-the-ban-der-uefa-808004/article |access-date=22 June 2021}}

Numerous reactions from German political parties condemned the ban by UEFA. Nationwide, other football stadiums, such as those in Cologne, Augsburg, Frankfurt, Wolfsburg, Berlin, and Darmstadt, were to be illuminated in the rainbow colours. Munich illuminated the Town Hall, Olympiaturm, and the wind turbine right next to the football arena. In the Netherlands, the Erasmusbrug, Ziggo Dome, tower in Alphen aan den Rijn and several town halls were illuminated.{{Cite news |title=Stadiums lit up throughout Germany, here too rainbow colors |language=nl |agency=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2386381-door-heel-duitsland-verlichte-stadions-ook-hier-regenboogkleuren |accessdate=26 June 2021}}{{Cite news |date=23 June 2021 |title=Also Ziggo Dome and A'dam Toren in rainbow colors |work=Het Parool |url=https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/ook-ziggo-dome-en-a-dam-toren-in-regenboogkleuren~b66be2c4/ |accessdate=26 June 2021}} In protest against the UEFA ban, several large German corporations also changed their company logos on social media sites to rainbow colours. This included BMW, Volkswagen, Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, Sparkasse, and HypoVereinsbank.{{Cite news|date=23 June 2021|title=Hungary PM 'scraps Euros visit' amid German LGBT row with Uefa|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57579821|access-date=24 December 2021}} CSD Germany announced that they would be distributing up to 11,000 flags, 5,000 cardboard boxes, and 4,500 stickers with the words "Don't Kick LGBTIQ Rights" to fans in front of the stadium. On 23 June, UEFA itself also changed their logo in social media to include a rainbow background, with a statement that "the rainbow is not a political symbol, but a sign of our firm commitment to a more diverse and inclusive society."{{Cite web |title=UEFA Respects the Rainbow |url=https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1407652489101557766 |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |via=Twitter |access-date=25 June 2021}} As a counter-action, Gábor Kubatov, president of the Hungarian club Ferencváros and vice-president of Fidesz, called for stadiums in Hungary to be illuminated in the Hungarian national colours. In addition, Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán cancelled a visit to Munich in protest.{{Cite news |last1=Beer |first1=Joshua |last2=Schnitzler |first2=Katja |last3=David Wünschel |first3=David |date=23 June 2021 |title=Die Entscheidung der Uefa ist beschämend |language=de |trans-title=The decision of Uefa is shameful |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/fussball-em-uefa-muenchen-regenbogen-reaktionen-1.5329703 |accessdate=23 June 2021}}{{Cite news |last1=Krieger |first1=Stefan |last2=Itz |first2=Tobias |last3=Wetzel |first3=Isabel |date=23 June 2021 |title=Wende bei der UEFA: Nach München-Verbot hüllt sich Verband selbst in Regenbogenfarben |language=de |trans-title=Turnaround at UEFA: After the Munich ban, the association wraps itself in rainbow colors |work=Frankfurter Rundschau |url=https://www.fr.de/eintracht-frankfurt/em-2021-uefa-entscheid-regenbogen-allianz-arena-deutschland-ungarn-eintracht-frankfurt-bundesliga-protest-90816355.html |accessdate=23 June 2021}}

{{see also| LGBT rights in Azerbaijan}}

On 3 July 2021, UEFA began an investigation after two fans had a rainbow flag confiscated during the quarter-final match between the Czech Republic and Denmark at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.{{Cite news |last=Milton |first=Josh |date=4 July 2021 |title=Pride flag confiscated from Denmark fans by security amid UEFA rainbow row |publisher=PinkNews |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/07/04/pride-flag-uefa-azerbaijan/ |accessdate=4 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=4 July 2021 |title=UEFA investigating confiscation of rainbow flag in Baku |publisher=RTÉ News and Current Affairs |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2021/0704/1232959-euro-2020-rainbow-flag/ |accessdate=4 July 2021}} Photos emerged while the match was being played, showing two stewards taking a rainbow flag, waved in support of the LGBTQ+ community, being taken.{{Cite news |date=3 July 2021 |title=UEFA investigating confiscation of rainbow flag in Baku |publisher=France 24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210703-uefa-investigating-confiscation-of-rainbow-flag-in-baku |accessdate=4 July 2021}} In a statement, UEFA said: "UEFA never instructed stewards in Baku – or in any other stadium – to confiscate rainbow flags. We are currently investigating what happened and we will of course contact the UEFA delegate, UEFA security officer and local authorities to clear this up. The rainbow flag is a symbol that embodies UEFA core values, promoting everything that we believe in – a more just and egalitarian society, tolerant of everyone and UEFA has ensured that the flag was returned to the supporter."{{Cite news |last=Crafton |first=Adam |date=3 July 2021 |title=UEFA investigating after fan appears to have rainbow flag confiscated at game |publisher=The Athletic |url=https://theathletic.com/news/fan-rainbow-flag-baku/Eg2Ged3zy3kK |accessdate=4 July 2021}}

In the 104th minute in the England vs Denmark semi-final match, on-field referee Danny Makkelie awarded a penalty kick to England after adjudging Danish defender Joakim Mæhle to have fouled English player Raheem Sterling in the penalty area. Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel stopped Harry Kane's penalty kick, but Kane was able to score from the rebound. In a press conference shortly after the match, Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand expressed his dissatisfaction with the penalty decision,{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title=Hjulmand is dissatisfied with the referee, points at two decisive episodes |publisher=TV2 News |url=https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2021-07-08-hjulmand-er-utilfreds-med-dommeren-peger-paa-to-afgoerende-episoder |access-date=8 July 2021}} as well as the fact that there were two balls on the pitch when the foul was given.{{Cite news |date=7 July 2021 |title=Kasper Hjulmand upset with penalty decision as Denmark's Euro 2020 dream ends |work=Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/england-denmark-gareth-southgate-harry-kane-wembley-b1880131.html |access-date=7 July 2021}} Non-English commentators such as Arsène Wenger, José Mourinho, and Dietmar Hamann criticised the penalty decision during and after the match, arguing that the penalty should not have been awarded when checked by VAR, while Roy Keane described it as "very, very soft".{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title='A 'blatant dive'? Mourinho and Wenger say VAR should have ruled out England penalty' |work=Northants Live |url=https://www.northantslive.news/news/blatant-dive-mourinho-wenger-say-5624858 |access-date=8 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title='You're going to defend him anyway' – Roy Keane and Ian Wright debate England penalty |work=Pundit Arena |url=https://punditarena.com/football/darraghmurphy/roy-keane-england-penalty-ian-wright/ |access-date=8 July 2021 |archive-date=8 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708081316/https://punditarena.com/football/darraghmurphy/roy-keane-england-penalty-ian-wright/ |url-status=dead }} Former England forward Alan Shearer also described the penalty decision as "soft", and said he would be "pretty angry if that penalty was given against England", while former England full-back Gary Neville said: "If we're being fair, you'd be absolutely devastated if you lost to a penalty like that." Match official and current ESPN rules analyst Mark Clattenburg, who refereed the UEFA Euro 2016 Final, said he would not have awarded a penalty kick for a tackle of this sort "in such a key moment."{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Lineker, Shearer & Jenas discuss the Raheem Sterling penalty incident |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/57758657 |access-date=8 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=9 July 2021 |title=Was it a penalty for England? The award of the penalty was controversial, with pundits, former referees and the Danish media all questioning the decision |work=Independent |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/penalty-england-was-raheem-sterling-dive-denmark-foul-euros-semi-final-1092944 |access-date=9 July 2021}}

The Birmingham Mail claimed Denmark disrupted the English wall during a critical free kick that led to the opening goal of the match, and that Denmark's goal should have been disallowed as a result. According to the FIFA Laws of the Game, during a free kick, attackers must be within one metre from the defending team's wall, a rule that was violated by the Danish players who were accused of blocking goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's vision.{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title=Why Denmark's opening goal against England 'should not have been allowed' |work=Birmingham Mail |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/denmark-goal-england-laws-game-20997342 |access-date=8 July 2021}}

On 8 July 2021, a day after the match, UEFA opened a disciplinary case against the English Football Association over a laser pointed at Danish goalkeeper Schmeichel just before the decisive penalty, booing when the Danish national anthem was played, and use of pyrotechnics.{{Cite news |title=Euro 2020: England charge by Uefa after 'laser' penalty incident |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57763001 |access-date=8 July 2021 |agency=BBC Sport}}{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title=UEFA opens case following Denmark's semi final |work=B.T. Berlingske Tidende |url=https://www.bt.dk/em/uefa-aabner-sag-efter-danmarks-semifinale}}{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title=UEFA charge England over Kasper Schmeichel laser incident |publisher=RTÉ News and Current Affairs |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0708/1233852-uefa-charge-england-for-schmeichel-laser-incident/ |accessdate=8 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title=England charged by Uefa over laser pointed at Schmeichel before Kane penalty |publisher=The 42 |url=https://www.the42.ie/uefa-charge-england-5489328-Jul2021/ |accessdate=8 July 2021}} The laser pointer first came to the notice of both the Football Association and UEFA in the first half of extra time but a search for the culprit was unsuccessful.{{Cite news |date=8 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: England charged by Uefa after 'laser' penalty incident |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57763001 |access-date=8 July 2021}} The Football Association were fined £25,630 (€30,000) for the three offences.{{Cite news |date=10 July 2021 |title=FA fined after England win over Denmark |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57788267 |accessdate=10 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=10 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: FA fined £25,630 by UEFA for England fans shining laser at Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel and other disturbances |agency=Sky Sports |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12016/12352908/euro-2020-fa-fined-25-630-by-uefa-for-england-fans-shining-laser-at-denmarks-kasper-schmeichel-and-other-disturbances |accessdate=10 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=10 July 2021 |title=FA fined £25,630 for laser incident, anthem boos and fireworks in semi-final |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/10/fa-fined-for-laser-incident-schmeichel-anthem-boos-fireworks-denmark-england-euro-2020-semi-final-uefa |accessdate=10 July 2021}}

On the day of the UEFA Euro 2020 final between Italy and England, thousands of England fans gathered at Wembley Stadium throughout the morning and afternoon, which prompted the police to urge anyone without tickets to not travel there.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Fans break through security barriers and run into Wembley ahead of England v Italy final |agency=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/euro-2020-fans-break-through-security-barriers-and-run-into-wembley-ahead-of-england-v-italy-final-12353777 |accessdate=11 July 2021}} Two hours before the final, footage showed hundreds of fans fighting with stewards and police as they attempted to force their way past barriers to get into the stadium.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2021 |title=Euro 2021 Final: Fans who stormed gates did not get in, says Wembley |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57799271 |accessdate=11 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=11 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: All eyes on Wembley as fans watch England in final |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57796459 |accessdate=11 July 2021}} Around 400 people managed to gain access to the stadium, in block 104, without paying for a ticket.{{Cite news |last1=Dathan |first1=Matt |last2=Lawton |first2=Matt |last3=Malvern |first3=Jack |last4=Reynolds |first4=John |last5=Simpson |first5=John |last6=Yeomans |first6=Emma |last7=Zeffman |first7=Henry |title=Euro 2020: Fans who abused England heroes should be ashamed of themselves, says Johnson |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/kings-cross-station-closed-as-england-fans-set-off-flares-kc7jqkkt5 |url-status=live |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711205628/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kings-cross-station-closed-as-england-fans-set-off-flares-kc7jqkkt5 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |issn=0140-0460}} Huge crowds gathered in Leicester Square throwing bottles and other objects, and Trafalgar Square, where a ticketed fan zone was set up.{{Cite news |last=Ames |first=Nick |date=11 July 2021 |title=England fans force way into Wembley without tickets for Euro 2020 final |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/11/euro-2020-final-wembley-fans-break-barrier-england-italy |accessdate=11 July 2021}} As a result of the violence and disorder, a total of 86 people were arrested by police, 53 of which were made at Wembley stadium for a number of offences, including public order breaches, assault, drunk and disorderly conduct and criminal damage.{{Cite web |date=12 July 2021 |title=Statement re: policing operation of Euro 2020 final |url=https://news.met.police.uk/news/statement-re-policing-operation-of-euro-2020-final-431111 |publisher=Metropolitan Police |accessdate=13 July 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713082156/https://news.met.police.uk/news/statement-re-policing-operation-of-euro-2020-final-431111 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |date=12 July 2021 |title=London police say 86 arrested around Euro 2020 soccer final |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/london-police-say-86-arrested-around-euro-2020-soccer-final-2021-07-12/ |accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{Cite news |last1=Burford |first1=Rachael |last2=Dex |first2=Robert |last3=Sharman |first3=Laura |last4=Sinclair |first4=Leah |last5=Waddel |first5=Leah |date=12 July 2021 |title=86 arrested and 19 officers injured in Euro 2020 final aftermath |work=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/49-arrests-19-officers-injured-euro-final-b945187.html |accessdate=13 July 2021}} 19 police officers were injured, including one who lost a tooth and another suffered a broken hand.{{Cite news |date=12 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Metropolitan Police make 86 arrests in connection with Italy vs England final |agency=Sky Sports |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12016/12353749/euro-2020-metropolitan-police-make-86-arrests-in-connection-with-italy-vs-england-final |accessdate=13 July 2021}}

On 12 July 2021, a day after the final, the Football Association said it would conduct a full review into how people without tickets were able to breach security and gain access to Wembley stadium for the Euro 2020 final.{{Cite news |last=Faulkner |first=Doug |date=12 July 2021 |title=FA review after fans break into Wembley for final |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57803366 |accessdate=12 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=12 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: The FA to conduct a review into how people without tickets got into Wembley final |agency=Sky News |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12354354/euro-2020-the-fa-to-conduct-a-review-into-how-people-without-tickets-got-into-wembley-final |accessdate=12 July 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Jamie |date=12 July 2021 |title=FA promise full review into Wembley security breach ahead of Euro 2020 final |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/england-fan-violence-wembley-euro-2020-b1882604.html |accessdate=12 July 2021}} On 13 July 2021, following the chaotic scenes, UEFA opened a disciplinary case against the Football Association for the invasion of the pitch by an England supporter, throwing of objects by supporters, disturbances during the Italian national anthem, and the use of pyrotechnics.{{Cite news |date=13 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020 final: Uefa opens investigation into events at Wembley |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57823364 |accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=13 July 2021 |title=UEFA to investigate fans' behaviour inside and around Wembley during Euro 2020 final |agency=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/uefa-to-investigate-fans-behaviour-inside-and-around-wembley-during-euro-2020-final-12355074 |accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=13 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Uefa open investigation against FA following Wembley final |agency=ITV News |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-07-13/euro-2020-uefa-open-investigation-against-fa-following-wembley-final |accessdate=13 July 2021}}

On 18 October 2021, UEFA punished the Football Association (FA) for the unrest at the final by ordering England to play their next UEFA competition match behind closed doors.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58418701|title=England given one-match stadium ban following unrest at Euro 2020 final|work=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=18 October 2021|accessdate=18 October 2021}} UEFA also imposed a ban for a second game, suspended for two years, and fined the FA £84,560 (€100,000) for the lack of order and discipline inside and around the stadium, for the invasion of the field of play, for the throwing of objects and for the disturbances during the national anthems.{{cite web|url=https://disciplinary.uefa.com/updates/026e-13822958b7d0-f4d6795729d6-1000--uefa-euro-2020-italy-v-england/|title=Disciplinary matters – UEFA EURO 2020: Italy v England|website=Union of European Football Associations|date=18 October 2021|access-date=18 October 2021}}

{{Further|UEFA Euro 2020 Final#Player abuse online}}

England football players Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford were subjected to racist abuse online after missing penalties in England's Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy.{{Cite news |date=12 July 2021 |title=Racist abuse of England players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho & Bukayo Saka condemned by FA |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57800431 |accessdate=12 July 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Jamieson |first=Alastair |date=12 July 2021 |title=Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford racially abused online after England Euro 2020 final defeat |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bukayo-saka-racist-england-sancho-rashford-b1882303.html |accessdate=12 July 2021}} The three football players took the last three penalties, two of which were saved by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, during England's 3–2 loss on penalties on Sunday 11 July 2021, and were all immediately targeted with racist language and emojis on their social media accounts.{{Cite news |date=11 July 2021 |title=Saka, Rashford and Sancho racially abused on social media after penalty misses |work=The Athletic |url=https://theathletic.com/news/saka-rashford-sancho-racist-abuse/bNiOc8bvSB95 |accessdate=12 July 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Husband |first=Ben |date=12 July 2021 |title=FA condemns 'disgusting' racist abuse of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho |work=Irish Mirror |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/england-bukayo-saka-racist-abuse-24512666 |accessdate=12 July 2021}}

The Football Association condemned the racist abuse and said it was "appalled by the online racism" aimed at some players on social media.{{Cite news |date=12 July 2021 |title=FA 'appalled' after Bakayo Saka racially abused on social media following Euro 2020 defeat |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/euro-2021/2021/07/12/fa-appalled-bakayo-saka-racially-abused-social-media-euro-2020/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/euro-2021/2021/07/12/fa-appalled-bakayo-saka-racially-abused-social-media-euro-2020/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |accessdate=12 July 2021}}{{cbignore}} In a statement, it said: "We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible. We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences. Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse."{{Cite news |date=12 July 2021 |title=FA condemns racist abuse of players following England's final loss |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fa-condemns-racist-abuse-players-following-englands-final-loss-2021-07-12/ |accessdate=12 July 2021}}

The Metropolitan Police began investigating the abuse and said on Twitter that the abuse was "totally unacceptable" and it would not be tolerated.{{Cite tweet |number=1414380936016318464 |user=MetPoliceEvents |title=We are aware of a number of offensive and racist social media comments being directed towards footballers following the #Euro2020 final. This abuse is totally unacceptable, it will not be tolerated and it will be investigated. |author=Metropolitan Police Events |date=12 July 2021 |access-date=12 July 2021}} Then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer, and the Football Association president Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, also condemned the racist abuse.{{Cite news |last=Heffer |first=Greg |date=12 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020: Boris Johnson and Priti Patel branded 'total hypocrites' over condemnation of racist abuse |agency=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/euro-2020-boris-johnson-and-priti-patel-branded-total-hypocrites-over-condemnation-of-racist-abuse-12354144 |accessdate=12 July 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Michael |date=12 July 2021 |title=UK PM Johnson, Prince William condemn racist abuse of England soccer team |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-johnson-condemns-racist-abuse-england-soccer-team-2021-07-12/ |accessdate=12 July 2021}}

The tournament was admired for its high scoring,{{Cite web |date=12 July 2021 |title=A definitive ranking of every Euros since 1996 from worst to best |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/a-definitive-ranking-of-every-euros-since-1996-from-worst-to-best/ |website=Planet Football |accessdate=14 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=12 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020 – The Verdict: Highs, lows and best goals of the tournament |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/euro-2020-the-verdict-highs-lows-and-best-goals-of-the-tournament-1.4616038 |accessdate=14 July 2021}} with 2.78 goals per game, a record for any European Championship since the introduction of the group stage in 1980.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2021 |title=Euro 2020 smashes finals goal records |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026a-12a12861a321-17e294c3aa1f-1000--euro-2020-smashes-finals-goal-records/ |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=14 July 2021}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Two of the highest-scoring games at the European Championship occurred during the tournament. 18 goals scored across four group stage matches on 23 June 2021 were a tournament record,{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026a-129a5b0ff821-019c4afd3026-1000--the-highest-scoring-euro-days/|title=Highest-scoring days in EURO history|website=UEFA|date=28 June 2021|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=7 August 2021}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} whereas 14 goals scored in the Croatia vs Spain and France vs Switzerland matches on 28 June 2021 made it the highest-scoring day in knockout stages and the second highest overall.{{Cite news |date=28 June 2021 |title=The best day in Euros history? |agency=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57646653 |accessdate=14 July 2021}}

The "light touch" officiating was also well received, with a perception that referees aimed to keep play moving.{{Cite news |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=30 June 2021 |title=Refereeing and VAR among the unlikely highlights of Euro 2020 |work=The Guardian |url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/refereeing-and-var-among-the-unlikely-highlights-of-euro-2020 |accessdate=14 July 2021}}{{Cite news |date=2 July 2021 |title='Let it flow': Referees praised for Euro 2020 officiating |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210702-let-it-flow-referees-praised-for-euro-2020-officiating |via=France 24 |accessdate=14 July 2021}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website|https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/}}
• [https://uefatechnicalreports.com/pdf-uefa-euro-2020 Official Technical Report] ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903140235/https://indd.adobe.com/view/publication/6e8ce3d6-ff21-4d31-be78-50651ff1ad3e/hnak/publication-web-resources/pdf/EURO2020_Tech_Report_SCREEN_EN.pdf |date=3 September 2022}})

{{UEFA Euro 2020}}

{{UEFA Euro 2020 finalists}}

{{UEFA Euro 2020 stadiums}}

{{UEFA European Championship}}

{{2020–21 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{European championships in 2021}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uefa Euro 2020}}

2020

Euro 2020

Category:June 2021 sports events in Europe

Category:July 2021 sports events in Europe

Category:Association football events postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic