Euro 2024: Fans flock to Berlin in hope of final tickets

A mad dash is on: England meet Spain in the final of the men's Euro 2024 and everyone wants a ticket.

The final will be played at Berlin's Olympiastadion which has a tournament capacity of 71,000, compared to some 75,000 on Hertha Berlin match days.

The allocation given by UEFA for each football association, though, is significantly lower, with 10,000 tickets being distributed among England and Spain fans at a price of €95 euros ($104) each.

When it comes to tickets sold directly through UEFA, ticket prices originally ranged from €300 to €1,000.

However, with the game being long sold out, supporters are turning to the black market to try to secure a match ticket, and the prices are significantly higher. Media reports in the UK estimate some 50,000 England fans will be in Berlin on Sunday.

Spain's allocation should be filled, as well, but some fan representatives have criticized the fact that some of the allocated tickets had ended up being sold to supporters not from Spain.

"Getting the tickets through the Spanish FA has been a disaster for us," Adrian Nunez, a fan of the Spanish national team and a member of the Spanish fan embassy, told DW. Otherwise, he says, the tournament has been "very special" for the Spanish fans.

Some resale websites offer tickets for prices starting from €1,300, with the higher categories sometimes reaching more than €10,000.

It needs to be mentioned that UEFA strongly advises against using black market sources.

Those supporters unable to get tickets will be able to watch the game at one of the city's fan zones, either next to the Brandenburg Gate, which can hold about 30,000 people, or alternatively, next to the Reichstag (10,000). Entrance is free of charge.

Fans show creativity in reaching Berlin

There's also the question of reaching Berlin. Flight prices from the UK have soared, with a flight from London to Berlin on Saturday costing some €1,000. Usually, such a flight could cost as little as €80.

Some supporters will surely find creative ways to reach the German capital, be it by train, car or plane. Some fans have connecting flights in Copenhagen, Warsaw and, in some cases, as far away as Istanbul. Trains from Poland and the Czech Republic also provide affordable alternatives.

The one aspect in which there's very little to worry about in Berlin are the hotels. The city is well equipped and while prices are higher than usual, hotel rooms are still available for some €250. This is also due to the fact Berlin has regional train connections to many smaller cities in the area such as Potsdam, Magdeburg and Frankfurt an der Oder, where fans are able to book hotels for much lower prices.

Public transport not an issue

While there have been complaints about some of Germany's host cities' public transport networks during the tournament, Berlin's far-reaching infrastructure is expected to provide supporters with enough options to travel to the Olympiastadion on Saturday. Subway and streetcars from Berlin's city center can reach the stadium within 40 minutes. But fans should be prepared to be packed in like sardines.

The fact that the Olympiastadion is just three stops away from Berlin's Spandau train station, where many intercity trains stop, could also help in reducing supporters' stress levels on the day itself.

Whether it's going to be Jude Bellingham or Lamine Yamal who will lift the European Championship trophy come Sunday night, Berlin promises to provide the best set for the show.

For the fans who make it there, get a ticket and manage to book a place to stay — all for a reasonable price — that is.

Edited by Mark Meadows