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UEFA EURO 2024
 Men's Football Cup in Germany

Ein buntes Bild, auf dem Fußball spielenden Menschen und Fußbälle zu sehen sind. © Goethe-Institut e. V., Tobias Schrank

From June, 14th until July, 14th, Germany will host the UEFA's EURO 2024, the European Cup in Men's Football.  We take a closer look at the importance of football in Germany, historically, culturally, and of course, in terms of sports. Join us, and immerse yourself in “Fußball-Fever”.

EURO 2024: All you need to know

Pink Jerseys and Green Promises

This summer, everything will revolve around the men’s European Football Championship in Germany – which will involve 24 nations, ten cities and millions of fans. Here you will find out everything you need to know for your next evening at the pub.

Times are changing in football, too: for away matches, the German national squad will be playing in pink during this tournament. Foto (detail): © picture alliance/Laci Perenyi/Jerry Andre Foto (detail): © picture alliance/Laci Perenyi/Jerry Andre

  • Football and Fashion

    Euros Fit-Check

    Soccer and fashion: there is no other match as unpredictable as this one. At times a bad pass, at others a volley into the top corner. We have looked back at some of the highlights in the history of the European Championship and tried to find the right words. 

    Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel celebrates after winning the final against Germany at the 1992 European Football Championships © picture alliance / Laci Perenyi | Laci Perenyi © picture alliance / Laci Perenyi | Laci Perenyi

  • Football in the Ruhr

    In the Land of 1,000 Derbies

    Matches will also be played at two stadiums in the Ruhr region during the 2024 European Football Championship. It’s not really surprising – this area in the far west of Germany is considered the nucleus of German football, especially away from the bright lights of the modern arenas.

    Miners demonstrate with a poster against the closure of mines at the Ruhrstadion in Bochum © picture alliance / augenklick/firo Sportphoto | Jürgen Fromme © picture alliance / augenklick/firo Sportphoto | Jürgen Fromme

  • Football and Music

    Football is Our Life

    There’s music in football: as we approach the men’s Euro 2024 in Germany, we take a look at football songs, some dodgy and some successful, and the stories behind them.

    The German men's national football team stands in a music studio around a piano at which the pop singer Udo Jürgens is sitting. © picture-alliance/ dpa/dpaweb | Marcus Thelen © picture-alliance/ dpa/dpaweb | Marcus Thelen

  • Diversity in football

    Tomorrow in the Present

    Girls' teams, clubs for the blind, queer fan clubs: Football shows its integrative potential above all away from the big stage. The movie “Elf Mal Morgen” takes a look at eleven different football stories in Germany.

    The female players of Türkiyemspor Berlin in the dressing room Foto (Detail): © Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin Foto (Detail): © Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin

Kick off your German skills

On Our Free Learning Platforms

The EURO Cup 2024 on “Deutschstunde”

Get your students involved in the football-fever with interactive German exercises that support learning in writing, speaking, and listening — and discover a treasure trove of teaching materials for all levels and ages. 

A soccer stadium © Goethe-Institut New York © Goethe-Institut New York

New tips for streaming at home

A selection of films, series, and documentaries

  • 2025, comedy, 88 min, OV with German subtitles

    Nix ist fix

    A group of friends' weekend retreat at a remote cabin takes a disturbing turn when three strangers occupy the property and refuse to leave. Starring Julia Koschitz, Brigitte Hobmeier, Felix Hellmann (directed by Natalie Spinell).
    Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 31.07.2027.

    Nix ist fix © ZDF/STEFANIE LEO © ZDF/STEFANIE LEO

  • 2015, thriller, 117 min, OV with German subtitles

    Der Fall Barschel

    The thriller revisits the political scandal surrounding Uwe Barschel and the investigation into his still-unsolved death. It follows two journalists who spent years uncovering new details and pursuing the story. Starring Alexander Fehling, Fabian Hinrichs (directed by Kilian Riedhof).
    Watch on ARD Mediathek until 20.08.2027.

    Der Fall Barschel © rbb/ARD Degeto/Stephan Rabold © rbb/ARD Degeto/Stephan Rabold

  • 2019, comedy, 88 min, OV with German subtitles

    Mein Freund, das Ekel

    Olaf Hintz is a misanthrope. When his sister Elfie has had enough, she leaves and rents out her share of the apartment to Trixie, a single mother. Starring Dieter Hallervorden, Alwara Höfels (directed by Marco Petry).
    Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 05.06.2027.

    Mein Freund, das Ekel © ZDF/Conny Klein © ZDF/Conny Klein

  • 2024, documentary, 44 min, OV with German subtitles

    Der letzte Sommer der DDR

    A documentary about the final summer of East Germany, marked by hope, protest, and disillusionment.
    Watch on arte until 30.03.2029.

    Der letzte Sommer der DDR © ZDF © ZDF

  • 2014, fairy tale, 82 min, OV with German subtitles

    Das kalte Herz

    A fairy tale by Wilhelm Hauff about wealth, temptation, and a dangerous bargain: charcoal burner Peter Munk sells his heart to Michel the Dutchman. Starring Rafael Gareisen, Thomas Thieme (directed by Marc-Andreas Bochert).
    Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 22.03.2031.

    Das kalte Herz © ZDF/Sandra Bergemann © ZDF/Sandra Bergemann

  • 2022, comedy, 88 min, OV with German subtitles

    Lehrer kann jeder!

    An unemployed mathematician takes a teaching job at his ex-wife's school hoping it will help him get his professional and personal life back on track. Starring Christoph Maria Herbst, Brigitte Zeh (directed by Ingo Rasper).
    Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 01.03.2027.

    Lehrer kann jeder © ZDF/Marc Meyerbroeker © ZDF/Marc Meyerbroeker

Football culture

in Germany

  • Football Nation Germany

    “A positive shift in the image of Germany worldwide”

    Football plays an important role in the way nations are perceived by others and by themselves, says philosopher and football expert Wolfram Eilenberger. He talks in our interview about old clichés and new signals.

    German and American fans get together at the Amerikahaus in Munich to watch Germany play the USA in a World Cup group stage match in 2014. Photo (detail): © Picture Alliance/Ulmer, Lukas Coch Photo (detail): © Picture Alliance/Ulmer, Lukas Coch

  • Germany’s national colours

    Reclaiming the flag, or showing our true colours

    After decades of a shadowy existence, the black, red and gold of the German flag have become standards signs of national pride at events like the Football World Cup. But fears are also growing that a new wave of nationalism may emerge from the shadows as well.

    Black, red and gold as far as the eye can see: football fans at Berlin's Fan Fest for the 2018 World Cup. Photo (detail): © picture alliance / Annegret Hilse/SVEN SIMON Photo (detail): © picture alliance / Annegret Hilse/SVEN SIMON

  • The EURO 2024 stadiums

    From a Yellow Wall to a Christening

    Which stadium can serve as a wedding venue, which stadium has remote control like a child’s toy and which is home to women’s football? Let us introduce you to the ten stadiums in Germany that will host the men’s European Football Championship.

    The “yellow wall” – terraces packed with 25,000 Dortmund fans. Foto (Detail): © picture alliance/Foto Huebner Foto (Detail): © picture alliance/Foto Huebner

  • East-West German Football History

    Separated by Politics, United by Football

    Ronald Reng has written a football book that is about much more than football. 1974 – Eine deutsche Begegnung is a captivating portrait of divided Germany in the 1970s.

    The teams of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR line up for the anthems in Hamburg's Volksparkstadion on 22 June 1974 before the group match of the World Cup. © picture-alliance / dpa | Werner Baum © picture-alliance / dpa | Werner Baum