Euro 2024
UEFA's 2024 European Championship in Germany; Spain won; now shapes 2026 World Cup squads.
Last refreshed: 21 May 2026
Which Euro 2024 stars are now central to the 2026 World Cup and which were cut?
Timeline for Euro 2024
Mentioned in: Fans file EU competition case vs FIFA
2026 FIFA World Cup- How does Euro 2024 affect the 2026 World Cup squads?
- Several Euro 2024 squads carried injuries and retirements into 2026 planning. Germany's post-tournament rebuild includes Neuer returning; England's selection is shaped by Bellingham's fitness and lessons from the Berlin final.Source: Lowdown
- Did Manuel Neuer retire after Euro 2024?
- Neuer was reported to have retired from international football after Euro 2024, but Julian Nagelsmann is reportedly including him in Germany's final 26-man World Cup squad as of May 2026.Source: Lowdown
Background
Euro 2024 was the European Championship held in Germany from 14 June to 14 July 2024, won by Spain, who defeated England 2-1 in the Berlin final. The tournament attracted the largest crowds in the competition's history and served as a key proving ground for the 2026 World Cup: several players who starred in Germany are now central to their nations' World Cup squads, including Germany captain Joshua Kimmich and England's Jude Bellingham.
The tournament's legacy looms over the 2026 build-up in two specific ways. Germany's exit in the quarter-finals on home soil accelerated Julian Nagelsmann's squad rebuild: Manuel Neuer, who was controversially recalled after Euro 2024 and reportedly retired from international football post-tournament, is said to be returning to Nagelsmann's final 26. England's penalty defeat in the final hardened Thomas Tuchel's determination to solve the side's knockout-stage vulnerability.
For readers following the 2026 World Cup, Euro 2024 is the most recent benchmark: form, injuries, and squad dynamics from that tournament still shape selection decisions today.
