From 11 June to 11 July 2021, the football world will be looking to Europe when stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski play with their nations for the European Championship title at the 2021 European Football Championship. The tournament, which will retain its official name of UEFA UEO 2020 despite being postponed by a year, is the biggest sporting event of the Corona era to date and is expected to feature spectators at all venues.
But how does a stadium visit work for fans? What rules apply and how do they differ at each venue? We provide answers to the most important questions about the European Football Championship and Covid-19.
Following the postponement of the tournament by a year due to Corona, it was unclear for a long time which host cities would also host matches in 2021, especially as UEFA demanded guarantees for matches with spectators in the stadium.
Instead of the original twelve host cities, there are now only eleven. Dublin has been dropped as a host city, with the games planned there passed on to London and St Petersburg. In addition, Seville has been moved up from Bilbao to become a host city.
The planned capacity utilisation of the stadiums varies depending on the host city: Budapest is the only venue planning a full stadium. Baku and St Petersburg are aiming for 50 per cent capacity. Copenhagen adjusted its projected attendance upward from 32 to 45 percent at the end of May. Wembley Stadium is at 75 percent capacity for the semifinals and final.
If more tickets are sold for matches than the final capacity, UEFA will draw lots to determine whose tickets remain valid.
If you have a ticket for the European Football Championship, you have to be prepared for some innovations when visiting the stadium compared to football matches before the pandemic.
Each ticket holder will be allocated a 30-minute window to enter the stadium before the match. It may therefore be necessary to arrive earlier than usual.
The following hygiene and distance rules will then apply on site:
- Masks are compulsory in and around the stadium.
- A minimum distance of 1.50 metres must be maintained.
- Only the seat indicated on the ticket may be used.
- Washing and disinfecting hands is recommended. Disinfectant will be available throughout the stadium for this purpose.
- Handshakes, hugs, high fives and close contact with others are to be avoided.
- Everyone should also stay in their seats during halftime and limit movement as much as possible.
- Signs in the stadium will point the way.
- Anyone who feels unwell or has symptoms of Covid-19 should not go into the stadium.
In addition, the eleven venues have different guidelines for stadium admission.
Stadium:
- Johan Cruijff ArenA
Planned capacity:
- 16,000 spectators (approx. 33 %)
Proof required upon entry:
- Proof of a negative Corona test
Matches:
- Sunday, June 13, 2021 - Group C: Netherlands - Ukraine (21:00, local time)
- Thursday, June 17, 2021 - Group C: Netherlands - Austria (21:00, local time)
- Monday, June 21, 2021 - Group C: Northern Macedonia - Netherlands (18:00, local time)
- Saturday, 26 June 2021 - Round of 16: Wales - Denmark (18:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Olympic Stadium
Projected attendance:
- 31,000 spectators (approx. 50%)
Required proofs at the entrance:
- None
Matches:
- Saturday, June 12, 2021 - Group A: Wales - Switzerland (17:00, local time)
- Wednesday, 16 June 2021 - Group A: Turkey - Wales (20:00, local time)
- Sunday, 20 June 2021 - Group A: Switzerland - Turkey (20:00, local time)
- Saturday, 3 July 2021 - Quarter-final 3: Czech Republic - Denmark (20:00, local time)
Stadium:
- National Arena
Projected attendance:
- 13,000 spectators (approx. 25%)
Proof required upon entry:
- Negative Covid 19 test result, proof of Covid 19 vaccination or proof of Covid 19 immunity.
Games:
- Sunday, June 13, 2021 - Group C: Austria - North Macedonia (19:00, local time).
- Thursday, 17 June 2021 - Group C: Ukraine - Northern Macedonia (16:00, local time)
- Monday 21 June 2021 - Group C: Ukraine - Austria (19:00, local time)
- Monday, 28 June 2021 - Round of 16: France - Switzerland (22:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Puskás Aréna
Projected attendance:
- 61,000 fans (100%)
Proof required upon entry:
- For Hungarian fans: Hungarian immunity card; a negative PCR test is not sufficient for Hungarian fans.
- For international fans: negative PCR test result (within 72 hours prior to match day), proof of previous COVID-19 infection or proof of vaccination (a list of accepted vaccination certificates is given by the Hungarian government here)
Matches:
- Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - Group F: Hungary - Portugal (18:00, local time).
- Saturday, 19 June 2021 - Group F: Hungary - France (15:00, local time)
- Wednesday 23 June 2021 - Group F: Portugal - France (21:00, local time)
- Sunday, 27 June 2021 - Round of 16: Netherlands - Czech Republic (18:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Stadium parking
Projected occupancy:
- first group match:15,900 fans (approx. 45%)
- later matches: 22,500 (73.5%)
Proof required upon entry:
- Negative Covid 19 test result, proof of Covid 19 vaccination or proof of Covid 19 immunity
Games:
- Saturday, June 12, 2021 - Group B: Denmark - Finland (18:00, local time).
- Thursday 17 June 2021 - Group B: Denmark - Belgium (18:00, local time)
- Monday 21 June 2021 - Group B: Russia - Denmark (21:00, local time)
- Monday, 28 June 2021 - Round of 16: Croatia - Spain (18:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Hampden Park
Projected attendance:
- 12,000 spectators (approx. 25%)
Proof required on entry: None
Matches:
- Monday 14 June 2021 - Group D: Scotland - Czech Republic (14:00, local time).
- Friday, 18 June 2021 - Group D: Croatia - Czech Republic (17:00, local time)
- Tuesday, 22 June 2021 - Group D: Croatia - Scotland (20:00, local time)
- Tuesday 29 June 2021 - Round of 16: Sweden - Ukraine (20:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Wembley Stadium
Projected attendance:
- Group matches and first round of 16 match: 22,500 spectators (approx. 25%)
- second round of 16 match: 45,000 (50%)
- Semi-finals and final: 60,000 (75%)
Evidence required on entry:
- negative lateral flow test; PCR or other tests are not accepted
Games:
- Sunday, June 13, 2021 - Group D: England - Croatia (14:00, local time).
- Friday, 18 June 2021 - Group D: England - Scotland (20:00, local time)
- Tuesday, 22 June 2021 - Group D: Czech Republic - England (20:00, local time)
- Saturday 26 June 2021 - Round of 16: Italy - Austria (20:00, local time)
- Tuesday, 29 June 2021 - Round of 16: England - Germany (17:00, local time)
- Tuesday. July 6, 2021 - Semifinals 1: Italy - Spain (20:00, local time)
- Wednesday, July 7, 2021 - Semifinals 2: England - Denmark (20:00, local time)
- Sunday, 11 July 2021 - Final: Winner HF1 - Winner HF2 (20:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Munich Football Arena
Projected attendance:
- 14,500 spectators (20%)
Evidence required upon entry:
- negative Corona test (PCR or antigen rapid test) performed in Germany and registered in Corona-Warn-App or Luca app.
- or: wristband for fully vaccinated or recovered persons.
Games:
- Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - Group F: France - Germany (21:00, local time).
- Saturday 19 June 2021 - Group F: Portugal - Germany (18:00, local time)
- Wednesday, 23 June 2021 - Group F: Germany - Hungary (21:00, local time)
- Friday, 02 June 2021 - Quarter-finals: Belgium - Italy (21:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Olimpico
Projected attendance:
- 16,000 spectators (approx. 25%)
Proof required upon entry:
- Negative Covid 19 test result or proof of vaccination
- Italian citizens may alternatively present proof of vaccination or proof of convalescent status
Matches:
- Friday, June 11, 2021 - Group A: Turkey - Italy (21:00, local time)
- Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - Group A: Italy - Switzerland (21:00, local time)
- Sunday, June 20, 2021 - Group A: Italy - Wales (18:00, local time)
- Saturday 3 July 2021 - Quarter-finals 4: Ukraine - England (21:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Saint Petersburg Stadium
Projected attendance:
- 30,050 spectators (approx. 50%)
Required proof at admission:
- Temperature check at the stadium entrance
Matches:
- Saturday, June 12 - Group B: Belgium - Russia (22:00, local time)
- Monday 14 June - Group E: Poland - Slovakia (19:00, local time)
- Wednesday 16 June - Group B: Finland - Russia (16:00, local time)
- Friday 18 June - Group E: Sweden - Slovakia (16:00, local time)
- Monday 21 June - Group B: Finland - Belgium (22:00, local time)
- Wednesday 23 June - Group E: Sweden - Poland (19:00, local time)
- Friday 2 July - Quarter-finals 1: Switzerland - Spain (19:00, local time)
Stadium:
- Estadio La Cartuja
Projected attendance:
- 17,000 spectators (approx. 30%)
Proof required at the entrance:
- No proof required
- UEFA recommends installing and activating the Spanish contact tracking app "Radar COVID" and collecting a wristband for those tested, vaccinated or convalescing
Matches:
- Monday, 14 June - Group E: Spain - Sweden (21:00, local time)
- Saturday, 19 June - Group E: Spain - Poland (21:00, local time)
- Wednesday 23 June - Group E: Slovakia - Spain (18:00, local time)
- Sunday 27 June - Round of 16: Belgium - Portugal (21:00, local time)
