Just like the previous two editions of the competition, 24 teams from across Europe will compete for the iconic trophy, but in order to take a step towards the final in Berlin, teams must first navigate the group stage.

With the teams split into six groups of four, there should be some exciting games during what is one of the biggest tournaments in world football. 

Here's an explanation of the format used at Euro 2024, and how many teams move on to the knockouts.

Euro 2024: How many teams qualify from each group?

As previously mentioned, 24 teams will compete at this year's tournament with them split into six groups of four teams. 

The groups were drawn based on how each of the teams, besides tournament hosts Germany, performed in qualifying, and the groups will play in a round-robin format to determine teams who will be in the top two places in each group. 

However, this will mean just 12 places in the round of 16 will be determined, therefore four of the best third placed teams will also qualify for the knockout stage. 

In order to determine the four best third placed teams, UEFA  will use the following criteria in order as per the official European Football Championship regulations:

• A. Higher number of points
• B. Superior goal difference
• C. Higher number of goals scored
• D. Higher number of wins
• E. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
• F. Position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings (see Article 23), or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots

The knockout stage will consist of single elimination games for each round (round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-final and final). 

If the score is level, the teams will play 30 minutes of extra time made up of two 15-minute halves, and if there is still no winner, the result will be decided with a penalty shootout. 

Euro 2024: What is the tie-breaking criteria for the group stage?

From UEFA European Football Championship regulations, teams in the group stage are ranked as follows: 

• A. Higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question
• B. Superior goal difference resulting from the matches played among the teams in question
• C. Higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question
• D. If, after having applied criteria A) to C), teams still have an equal ranking, criteria A) to C) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria E) to H) apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal
• E. Superior goal difference in all group matches
• F. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches
• G. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
• H. Position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings (see Article 23), or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots