Arena AufSchalke (Veltins-Arena)
Location: Gelsenkirchen, NRW
Opened: 13 August 2001
Capacity: 54,740

England’s opening game against Serbia will take place in Gelsenkirchen at a stadium that will be very familiar to fans who remember the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

After all, it was at the Arena AufSchalke that England lost a quarter-final to Portugal on penalties, but the 54,740-capacity stadium presents the Three Lions with a chance to write a new chapter in the history of English football.

First opened in August 2001, the Arena AufSchalke – aka Veltins-Arena for sponsorship reasons – has been the home of 2.Bundesliga side FC Schalke ever since then. While the club may have suffered on the pitch in recent years, it’s still very much a state-of-the-art facility, having hosted Germany matches as recently as June 2023.

This summer, the Arena AufSchalke will host a Group A tie between Spain and Italy on 20 June, a Group F clash six days later, and a round of 16 fixture on 30 June.

A former colliery site given a new lease of life as a landscape park, Nordsternpark will be transformed for the EURO 2024 Festival to host the Fan Zone. The amphitheatre within the park will hold the public viewing; it’s already a regular concert venue with performances from the likes of Scorpions and Peter Maffay and the home to Rock Hard Festival.

Every match played at Arena AufSchalke and those featuring Germany will be broadcast live on a giant screen for thousands of fans. In between matches and the entertainment programme at the amphitheatre, take some time to admire the beautiful views of the Rhine-Herne Canal.

Trains: Gelsenkirchen Central Station is the city’s main local and long-distance transport hub. Around 30 long-distance trains depart from Gelsenkirchen every day and over 300 regional trains go to the surrounding cities daily.

Planes: Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is the closest to Gelsenkirchen and located about 40km southwest of the city. From there, the RE2 and RE3 train lines offer a direct connection to Gelsenkirchen Central Station which will take you approximately 35 minutes. If you opt for a taxi, it’ll take you between 40 and 60 minutes and cost about €100.

Automobiles: Please do not travel to Gelsenkirchen by car during EURO 2024. Tournament traffic can increase your journey time significantly, and Gelsenkirchen city centre can get very busy with residents and commuters. Stadium parking will be extremely limited and strictly for pre-booked cars only. If car is your only option, Gelsenkirchen is accessible via the A2, A40, A42 and A52 motorways.

You can find out more about Gelsenkirchen via UEFA's city guide here.