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Cologne Euro 2024 fixtures, tickets, stadium fan zones and more

Written by Chloe Digby
Last Update: June 18, 2024
Published on

Our host city focus shines the spotlight on Cologne Euro 2024.

Its stadium, the RheinEnergieSTADION was previously known as the Mรผngersdorfer Stadium and was built on the site of the two previous editions of the ground and is of course home to Bundesliga outfit FC Kรถln.

This article will take a deep dive into the facility and ensure you know everything there is to know about Cologne ahead of the tournament.

Cologne Euro 2024: What to expect

Cologne Euro 2024
Photo by Icon Sport

Key Cologne Euro 2024 stadium facts

  • Location: Cologne, Germany
  • Year Opened: 1923 (demolished in 2001 and reopened in 2003)
  • Capacity: 50,000 for domestic matches (41,825 seating section & 8,175 standing section) and 43,000 for Euro 2024

Completely rebuilt in 2003 ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, this modern stadium has superb facilities, including 48 VIP lounges and a club museum built into the stands.

A Brief History of the RheinEnergieSTADION

The stadium construction created 15,000 jobs in the post-First World War era and put Cologne on the map, with large crowds and increased spending in the area due to football.

The stadium was selected to host occasional international matches, with the first on 20 November 1927, when Germany drew 2โ€“2 with the Netherlands in front of a 75,000-strong crowd.

Since the rebuild in 2003, this ground has hosted top music concerts featuring artists such as Rihanna, Beyonce and Metallica and was also the venue for the UEFA Cup Final in the Covid-hit season of 2020.

How many games will Cologne host at Euro 2024?

The stadium will host five matches at the tournament, four of which are group-stage games. The fixtures are as follows:

All times are local

Group Stage

  • Hungary vs Switzerland – June 15 – 3 pm
  • Scotland vs Switzerland – June 19 – 9 pm
  • Belgium vs Romania – June 22 – 9 pm
  • England v Slovenia – June 25 – 9 pm

Round of 16

  • TBC vs TBC – June 30 – 9 pm

Rules at RheinEnergieSTADION for Cologne Euro 2024

UEFA states that even if you are a regular visitor to the ground it could operate differently than usual. There are several stadium rules for the site outlined by the organisation ahead of the tournament, which are as follows:

  • No bags greater than the size of A4 will be permitted within the premises
  • Only power banks no larger than your phone will be allowed inside the ground
  • A valid form of ID upon entry is mandatory
  • No professional cameras or cane umbrellas (regular collapsable umbrellas will be permitted)
  • Smoking of any kind including the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes is strictly not allowed

Scotland are in a more difficult position given that they have leaked 5 goals and scored only one after a game in Group A. Thus, to compete for the playoff spot, the Tartan Army must score at least six goals in their second game to challenge the top two places.

Cologne Euro 2024 - Scotland fans
Scotland Fans during the Euro 2024 opener against Germany. Photo by Icon Sport

Matchday travel for Cologne Euro 2024

UEFA have made sustainability a priority at this tournament. As such, all fans travelling in Germany on, or indeed before matchday, have been urged to opt for public transport over other methods such as driving. Public parking at Cologne Stadium is now available to pre-book for โ‚ฌ24 per match on a first-come, first-served basis on the UEFA website.

Thankfully, any supporters with a ticket for a match taking place at the Olympiastadion are granted a 36-hour travel pass at no additional cost for the entire VRS (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg) and VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) networks. The pass is activated from 6 am on matchday until 6 pm.

Public transport in England is notoriously unreliable, but it is the opposite in Germany. An influx of fans during Euro 2024 could potentially affect its reliability, but a rough guideline for some key journey travel times within Cologne are as follows:

  • Airport to stadiumย  – 45 minutes by public transport
  • Airport to central station – 25 minutes by public transport
  • Central station to Fan Zone – 15-minute walk or seven minutes by public transport
  • Central station to the stadium – 30 minutes by public transport

RheinEnergies Stadion Euro 2024 Fan Zones

Cologne is preparing for its first match on Saturday 15 June 2024 when Hungary clashes with Switzerland in the European Championship. A host of other matches will follow, with England's clash with Slovenia on Tuesday 25 June 2024 expected to be the final group-stage game and an important decider in the race for knockout games.

But apart from the packaged football action at RheinEnergies Stadion, there are a lot of activities lined up for matchgoers expected in this city in the coming days. Euro 2024 Fan Zones are of particular interest, so even as you get your travel documents and match tickets ready, a train ride in the German city should get you to one of the exciting locations where fans will party all day and night.

It begs the question, which are the Fan Zones in Cologne and what should you expect in each of them? Make no mistake that Euro Festivals in Germany this year will come with a lot of nostalgia. It is the second time that Germany will host the prestigious contest, so you should book a date with any of the Cologne Euro Fan Zones before the group-stage matches halt.

Fan Zone Heumarkt

Fan Zone Heumark is one of the locations to visit during the European Championship in Germany this year.ย  The best thing about this location is that you will get the full Euro 2024 experience, watching all the games on a big screen even as you party the evening away. Fan Zone Heumarkt will not charge an entry fee, so you have 31 days to experience the city of Cologne.

For food and beverage in Cologne, there are many restaurants to visit and enjoy German beer and special local and European dishes. We recommend loading your cards with enough cash to avoid inconveniences and always use public transport for ease of movement during the European Championship in Germany.

Moreover, let's emphasize that the Fan Zone in Cologne has a maximum capacity of 7,500, so the earlier you visit the better. Familiarize yourself with the festival rules on the UEFA website, which includes the size of bags to carry. And don't forget to check our page on RheinEnergies Stadion for more travel information, eateries and accommodation in Cologne.

Disabled facilities at RheinEnergieSTADION

The RheinEnergieSTADION has plenty of accessibility features for those who require extra support to enjoy the games.

For those that require accessible parking spaces, permits are available to be requested during the ticket application process. However, these are not guaranteed and are on a first-come-first-served basis.

Audio-descriptive commentary for those with vision impairments will also be provided on the ground, the exact details of which will be released closer to the tournament.

Finally, there is also a wheelchair loan service in place at the stadium and several accessibility-dedicated volunteers can assist your needs on the day.

We hope everyone visiting Cologne has a memorable and pleasant experience during their time in Germany.