The Number of Participating Nations in the European Championship Has Steadily Increased Since 1992

A report by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) shows that the number of participants in the European Championship has increased from 1992 to 2020. The 1992 European Championship only attracted eight countries to compete in the prestigious competition.

The number of participants in this quadrennial event then increased to 16 countries in the 1996 European Championship. This number remained stable until the 2012 European Championship.

Four years later, 24 countries participated in the 2016 European Championship. The increase in participants, along with the increase in the number of matches, raised the revenue of the 2016 European Championship to €1.92 billion or Rp 33.2 trillion (at an exchange rate of Rp 17,300/€). This is a 38% increase compared to the 2012 European Championship held in Poland and Ukraine.

This year, the European Championship is being held again with 24 participating countries. It is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 11, 2021, in 11 cities.

The match between Turkey and Italy in Group A will open this year's European Championship. This will be the 11th meeting between the two countries, as cited by Transfermarkt.