UEFA Euro 2016 which runs from June 10th to July 10th 2016 will attract millions of TV viewers. Check global listings here.

UEFA EURO 2016: The facts and figures

From June 10th to July 10th 2016, the whole world will be tuned to various stadiums in France as the much-anticipated UEFA Euro 2016 kicks off. This year’s tournament will go down in history for being the first to accommodate a total of 24 teams. And for the first time, 16 teams will proceed to the second round of the competition. This will consist of the top two teams in each group and four best third-place finishers. 

France is expected to hold a colorful tournament after beating the likes of Italy, Norway, Sweden and Turkey to the hosting rights for this year’s edition. This will be the third time the French will be hosting this tournament. They were the hosts of the very first UEFA Euro in 1960 and the 1984 edition. 
 
Hence, this makes them the first country to host the tournament thrice. They will also hope to provide a repeat of their performance in 1984 when they won the tournament after beating Spain 2-0 in the finals. This was also the second and last time a host country won the tournament on home soil. The first was Italy back in 1968. Now Didier Deschamps men will be looking to write their names in the books of history by being the first host country to win the tournament twice on home soil.

Euro 2016 Tournament format

There will be a total of six groups, each consisting of four teams. The two top teams from each group will qualify for the next phase of the tournament, hence making it a total of 12 teams. They will then be joined by four best third-place finishers, hence making it a total of 16 teams in the last round of 16, also known as the knockout stage.

Records at stake

Two countries can win this tournament a record of four times. Spain has won this tournament three times; in 1964, 2008 and most recently in 2012. On the other hand, Germany won it in 1972, 1980 and most recently in 1996 after beating Czech Republic 2-1. 

Euro 2016 host cities

On January 25, 2013, the UEFA Excecutive Committee announced a list of 10 cities and stadiums that will host the European tournament. Here is a quick look at each one of them.

1. Marseille – Stade Velodrome 
2. Saint-Denis – Stade de France 
3. Lille – Stade Pierre-Mauroy
4. Lyon – Stade des Lumieres
5. Paris – Parc des Princes
6. Toulouse – Stadium Municipal 
7. Nice – Allianz Riviera 
8. Lens – Stade Felix-Bollaert
9. Bordeaux – Stade Bordeaux- Atlantique
10. Lens – Stade Felix-Bollaert

Players to watch

This tournament will be graced by some of the most celebrated names in football, including upcoming and promising talents. The hosts will have a rich basket of talents to display to the whole world. They include the likes of Man United’s Anthony Martial, Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman, Juventus’ Paul Pogba, West Ham United’s free-kick sensation Dimitri Payet, and Leicester City’s engine N’Golo Kante. Sadly for many football fans, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema (France) will be unavailable to the blackmail case filed against him involving teammate Mathieu Valbuena. 

Other superstars include Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wales’ Gareth Bale, the Belgium trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, England’s Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, and many more.
 
Did you know?
 
The Champions of Euro 2016 will automatically qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup to be played in Russia, as a curtain raiser for the much anticipated 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, if Germany or Russia win the Euro’s, the runners-up will be selected to participate in the Confederations Cup. This is because, Russia have already qualified by virtue of being the hosts, while Germany have also qualified by virtue of being the World Cup champions. 
 
But if Germany and Russia both make it to the Euro 2016 final, the qualifier for the Confederations Cup will derive from the losing semi-finalists. Therefore, the 2017  Confederations Cup will consist of six teams namely; the world champions (Germany), Asian champions (Australia), hosts (Russia), Euro 2016 champions, champions of the 2015 Copa America Centenario, and the champions of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
 

Euro 2016 TV Broadcast Schedule

Friday, 10 June
Live
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3:00pm
France 2 - 1 Romania
Saturday, 11 June
Live
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9:00am
Albania 0 - 1 Switzerland
Live
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12:00pm
Wales 2 - 1 Slovakia
Live
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3:00pm
England 1 - 1 Russia
Sunday, 12 June
Live
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9:00am
Turkey 0 - 1 Croatia
Live
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12:00pm
Poland 1 - 0 Northern Ireland
Live
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3:00pm
Germany 2 - 0 Ukraine
Monday, 13 June
Live
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9:00am
Spain 1 - 0 Czech Republic
Live
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12:00pm
Ireland Republic 1 - 1 Sweden
Live
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3:00pm
Belgium 0 - 2 Italy
Tuesday, 14 June
Live
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12:00pm
Austria 0 - 2 Hungary
Live
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3:00pm
Portugal 1 - 1 Iceland
Wednesday, 15 June
Live
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9:00am
Russia 1 - 2 Slovakia
Live
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12:00pm
Romania 1 - 1 Switzerland
Live
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3:00pm
France 2 - 0 Albania
Thursday, 16 June
Live
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9:00am
England 2 - 1 Wales
Live
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12:00pm
Ukraine 0 - 2 Northern Ireland
Live
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3:00pm
Germany 0 - 0 Poland
Friday, 17 June
Live
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9:00am
Italy 1 - 0 Sweden
Live
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12:00pm
Czech Republic 2 - 2 Croatia
Live
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3:00pm
Spain 3 - 0 Turkey
Saturday, 18 June
Live
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9:00am
Belgium 3 - 0 Ireland Republic
Live
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12:00pm
Iceland 1 - 1 Hungary
Live
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3:00pm
Portugal 0 - 0 Austria
Sunday, 19 June
Live
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3:00pm
Romania 0 - 1 Albania
Live
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3:00pm
Switzerland 0 - 0 France
Monday, 20 June
Live
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3:00pm
Russia 0 - 3 Wales
Live
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3:00pm
Slovakia 0 - 0 England
Tuesday, 21 June
Live
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12:00pm
Northern Ireland 0 - 1 Germany
Live
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12:00pm
Ukraine 0 - 1 Poland
Live
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3:00pm
Croatia 2 - 1 Spain
Live
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3:00pm
Czech Republic 0 - 2 Turkey
Wednesday, 22 June
Live
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12:00pm
Hungary 3 - 3 Portugal
Live
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12:00pm
Iceland 2 - 1 Austria
Live
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3:00pm
Italy 0 - 1 Ireland Republic
Live
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3:00pm
Sweden 0 - 1 Belgium
Saturday, 25 June
Live
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9:00am
Switzerland 1 - 1P Poland
*Round of 16
Live
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12:00pm
Wales 1 - 0 Northern Ireland
*Round of 16
Live
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3:00pm
Croatia 0 - 1 Portugal
*Round of 16
Sunday, 26 June
Live
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9:00am
France 2 - 1 Ireland Republic
*Round of 16
Live
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12:00pm
Germany 3 - 0 Slovakia
*Round of 16
Live
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3:00pm
Hungary 0 - 4 Belgium
*Round of 16
Monday, 27 June
Live
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12:00pm
Italy 2 - 0 Spain
*Round of 16
Live
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3:00pm
England 1 - 2 Iceland
*Round of 16
Thursday, 30 June
Live
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3:00pm
Poland 1 - 1P Portugal
*Quarterfinal #1
Friday, 1 July
Live
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3:00pm
Wales 3 - 1 Belgium
*Quarterfinal #2
Saturday, 2 July
Live
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3:00pm
Germany P1 - 1 Italy
*Quarterfinal #3
Sunday, 3 July
Live
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3:00pm
France 5 - 2 Iceland
*Quarterfinal #4
Wednesday, 6 July
Live
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3:00pm
Portugal 2 - 0 Wales
*Semifinal #1