Belgium draw favourable opponents for Euro 2024 group stage

Belgium's Red Devils will meet Romania, Slovakia and the winner of Play-off B - either Israel, Iceland, Bosnia or Ukraine - in the group stage of UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany next summer. The names were drawn on Saturday evening at the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall in Hamburg.

The Red Devils will play their first group game against Slovakia in Frankfurt on 17 June. They will face Romania in Cologne on 22 June. Ranked 45th and 43rd respectively in the FIFA world rankings, the two teams should prove a manageable challenge for Belgium, who are currently in fourth place.

Third opponent still unknown

The final match of the group stage will be played on 26 June in Stuttgart against the winner of Play-off B: either Israel, Iceland, Bosnia or Ukraine. These teams will play a semi-final on Thursday 21 March (Israel-Iceland and Bosnia-Ukraine), followed by the final on Tuesday 26 March. The winner of Bosnia-Ukraine will have home advantage.

All participating countries have been divided into six groups of four. The top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stage.

Belgium qualified for the finals with a 5-0 win over Azerbaijan in November. The Red Devils were seeded in Pot 1, meaning they avoided the toughest of opposition.

UEFA Euro 2024 will be held in Germany from 14 June to 14 July 2024. The home side will open their campaign against Scotland in Munich.

^{Italian former football player Gianluigi Buffon drew Belgium. © Odd ANDERSEN / AFP}