The 40-page report published this Friday on the home page of UEFA, European football's governing body, found no major reservations about Germany's bid to host what would be its fourth major international football tournament.
It noted that all of the stadiums that the German bid foresees using in 2024 already existed, although some upgrades would be required before the tournament kicks off. Germany also got points for its transportation infrastructure and human rights record.
"The DFB (German Football Association) bid is of high quality and comfortably meets overall expectations when it comes to political aspects, social responsibility, sustainability and human rights," the report stated.
Concerns about Turkish bid
The Turkish bid didn't come off as well in the report, which highlighted concerns in the areas of infrastructure, finance and human rights.
Of Turkey's bid, the evaluation found that: "The lack of an action plan in the area of human rights is a matter of concern."
It also expressed concern that "recent economic developments in the country may put planned public investments under pressure."
It also said that "limited hotel capacity in many cities is a matter of concern" and that overall "the scale of works to be undertaken ... constitutes a risk."
Unlike the German bid, the Turkish Football Association (TFF) is planning to rebuild two of the existing stadiums that it foresees using in 2024, while renovating a third.
On the positive side for the Turkish bid, it noted that it had the full backing of the population and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while there was "widespread support" in Germany for the DFB's bid.
"The report shows that we have taken our work of the past several months seriously and UEFA has taken note of our strengths," said the ambassador for the German bid, former national team captain Phillipp Lahm. If Germany gets the nod, he stands to become the head of the organizing committee for 2024.
Germany has previously hosted the 1988 European championship, as well as the 1974 and 2006 World Cups.
The UEFA Executive Committee is to vote on September 27 to decide which country will host Euro 2024.
pfd/hf (dpa, SID)
Germany hosts Euro 2024 from June 14 to July 14. The tournament is being being held at 10 venues, with the final to be played in Berlin.
Image: Arno Burgi/picture alliance / dpaBerlin's Olympic Stadium is something of a German Wembley. Originally constructed for the 1936 Olympic Games, it has been the home of Hertha Berlin since 1963. The stadium has hosted the final of the German Cup, the DFB Pokal, since 1985 and was also the venue for both the 2006 World Cup final and 2015 Champions League final. Its next major final will be on July 14 for the Euros.
It may look like a UFO has landed next to the motorway in Munich but it is in fact the home of German giants Bayern Munich since 2005. Its outer scales light up red when Bayern are at home and can be lit up in the national colors when Germany plays here. Built for the 2006 World Cup, it will host the Euro 2024 opener on June 14 and one of the semifinals.
Borussia Dortmund's stadium, still known by many fans as the Westfalenstadion, is the biggest football ground in Germany with a total capacity of 81,360 – although this will be reduced to just 62,000 for the Euros. In the 2006 World Cup, Germany were beaten in the semifinal here by Italy and it will host the other 2024 semifinal.
Leipzig, the city where the German Football Association (DFB) was founded in 1900 and home to the first ever German champions, VfB Leipzig, in 1903, is also represented. The new arena was built ahead of the 2006 World Cup inside the bowl of the historic Zentralstadion. In 2010, it was renamed and became the home of RB Leipzig. Three group games and a round-of-16 match will be played here.
Built on the foundations of the old Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne's stadium was built for the 2006 World Cup. The four corner pillars light up the night sky. Cologne's home ground will have a capactiy of 43,000 for the Euros. Four group stage matches and a round of 16 game will be played here during Euro 2024.
Schalke's home stadium sits atop a hill in the north of Gelsenkirchen. Now named after a beer producer, it can accommodate 50,000 for the Euros. Its retractable roof can come into play during bad weather. The arena was a World Cup venue in 2006. It is also used to host other events like concerts, and is another ground that will host three group games and a last-16 clash at the Euros.
This ground, like so many in Germany, has carried a string of sponsors' names in recent years. But now it's back to its original title, that roughly translates (Volksparkstadion) as the People's Park Stadium. Opened in 2000, the stadium can has a capacity of 49,000 for the Euros and will host a quarterfinal as well as group-stage games.
It's no surprise that the stadium in Frankfurt made the cut and will host a round of 16 game as well as group stage matches. It will have a capacity of 47,000 for European Championship matches. Germany's financial capital on the River Main already attracts more than its fair share of foreign visitors, and is also where Germany's football federation has its headquarters.
Düsseldorf was perhaps the biggest loser in 2006 when the World Cup venues were announced. Despite a newly renovated stadium, the city went empty-handed while local rivals Cologne got the nod. The ground is a cauldron inside, although it resembles a giant DIY store from the outside. One of the Euro 2024 quarterfinals is to be played here.
There is a lot to be happy about football-wise in Stuttgart right now. VfB Stuttgart's stunning Bundesliga season, when they finished second, is being followed by the city's partly renovated stadium hosting Euro 2024 games. The first quarterfinal takes place here. It boasts a capacity of 51,000 for the tournament.
