The knockout rounds of Euro 2024 is where teams begin to dream of glory.
From here on in we are at a single-elimination knockout stage, where fans believe that anything can happen. That's why teams don't care how they get there. They just want to get there.
Some paths will prove easier than others in the knockouts, depending on the teams that qualify and on which side of the bracket each team winds up. The Round of 16 matchups are predetermined, with teams slotting in based on their finish in their respective groups (group winner, group runner-up or one of the best third-placed group teams).
As the knockout-stage action starts to loom large on the horizon in Germany, The Sporting News lays out all you need to know about the Euro 2024 Round of 16.
MORE: When and where is the final of Euro 2024?
Euro 2024 Round of 16 schedule
The matchups in the Round of 16 were predetermined and the bracket has been filled out as each team clinched first or second place in their respective groups. The four best third-placed teams have also qualified for the first knockout round.
Schedule dates and times are listed below. These are local CET in Germany, with ET -6hrs, BST -1hr, India +3:30hrs and AEST +8 hrs.
| Date | Time (CET) | Match | Location |
| June 29 | 6 p.m. | M1: Switzerland vs. Italy | Berlin (Olimpiastadion) |
| June 29 | 9 p.m. | M2: Germany vs. Denmark | Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park) |
| June 30 | 6 p.m. | M3: England vs. Slovakia | Gelsenkirchen (Veltins-Arena) |
| June 30 | 9 p.m. | M4: Spain vs. Georgia | Cologne (RheinEnergieStadion) |
| July 1 | 6 p.m. | M5: France vs. Belgium | Dusseldorf (Merkur Spiel-Arena) |
| July 1 | 9 p.m. | M6: Portugal vs. Slovenia | Frankfurt (Waldstadion) |
| July 2 | 6 p.m. | M7: Romania vs. Netherlands | Munich (Allianz Arena) |
| July 2 | 9 p.m. | M8: Austria vs. Turkey | Leipzig (Red Bull Arena) |
MORE: Complete knockout round schedule through to the Euro 2024 final
Teams in Euro 2024 Round of 16 and bracket
The bracket for the Euros comes in two halves. And each will produce a finalist. The bracket shaped up as a result of the group-stage action, which concluded on June 26.
You can check out the full group standings and results here.
These teams qualified for the first half of the Round of 16 bracket, from which one lucky finalist will emerge:
- Germany
- Spain
- Portugal
- France
- Denmark
- Belgium
The other half of the bracket will produce the other finalist and these are the following teams to have qualified:
- Switzerland
- Italy
- Austria
- England
- Romania
- Turkey
The below teams have also qualified for the Round of 16 as one of four best third-placed finishers:
- Netherlands
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Georgia
MORE: Which player has won the most European Championship titles in history?
How does Round of 16 work at Euro 2024?
The Round of 16 is the start of what is commonly referred to as the knockout rounds, because every match is single elimination from here on out.
There are no points earned. There are no standings. There's simply a winner and a loser.
What happens if knockout matches finish tied?
There has to be a winner on the day for each Round of 16 match and for subsequent knockout-round matches (quarterfinals, semifinals, final). So if teams are tied after 90 minutes of regulation, the match goes into a 30-minute period of extra time.
If the deadlock persists after those 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout will determine the team that moves on to the quarterfinals.
The Round of 16 pairings are set in advance. Teams that finish in first place in the group stage match up against teams that are either runners-up of the best third-place teams in their respective groups.
How teams advance at Euro 2024
There are 24 teams that reach the Euros, after emerging from qualifying matches in their respective regions.
Group Stage
Once they get to the tournament, the first obstacle awaiting them is the group stage. In 2024, the 24 teams were split up into six groups of four teams each.
The group stage consists of typical round-robin group play, with each team playing the other three once. Three points are awarded for every win in the group stage, one for a draw, and none for a loss. If teams are tied on points, goal difference and then goals represent the first tiebreakers.
The top two finishers in each group advance to the knockout stage, as do the four best third-place teams. Those teams are slotted into a predetermined bracket based on their group position that starts with the Round of 16.
Knockout Rounds
Beginning with the Round of 16 through to the final, every match is single elimination. Teams advance from the Round of 16 to the quarterfinals, then to the semifinals, and lastly to the final.
As explained above, if teams are tied at the end of the 90 minutes of regulation, the teams play 30 minutes of extra time followed by a penalty shootout, if necessary.