Berlin

Berlin is the capital of Germany and, with around 3.7 million inhabitants, it is the most populous and, at 892 square kilometres, the largest city in Germany and the most populous city in the European Union. Around 6.2 million people live in the capital region of Berlin-Brandenburg.

First mentioned in a document in the 13th century, Berlin has historically been the capital of the Mark Brandenburg, Prussia and Germany. After the end of World War II, the city was divided into West and East Berlin. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and German reunification in 1990, the two halves of the city grew together again and Berlin regained its role as the all-German capital. Since 1999, the city has been the location of the Federal Government, the Federal President, the German Bundestag (Parliament), the Bundesrat (Federal Parliament) and most ministries, numerous federal authorities and embassies.

The most important branches of Berlin's economy include tourism, the creative and cultural industries, biotechnology and healthcare with medical technology and the pharmaceutical industry, information and communication technologies, the construction and real estate industry, trade, optoelectronics, energy technology and the trade fair and congress industry. The city is a European transport hub for road, rail and air transport. Berlin is one of the international centres for innovative company founders.

The most important branches of Berlin's economy include tourism, the creative and cultural industries, biotechnology and healthcare with medical technology and the pharmaceutical industry, information and communication technologies, the construction and real estate industry, trade, optoelectronics, energy technology and the trade fair and congress industry. The city is a European transport hub for road, rail and air transport. Berlin is one of the international centres for innovative company founders.

Berlin is considered a cosmopolitan city of culture, politics, media and science. The universities and research institutes, local sports and museums enjoy an international reputation. The metropolis has the UNESCO title City of Design and is one of the most visited cities on the continent. Architecture, festivities and nightlife are known worldwide.

Mercedes-Benz Arena

Capacity: 14,800 spectators

Handball history: The journey of the German national handball team through IHF Men’s World Championship 2019 began in the arena at Berlin East Station in January 2019. Remarkable in terms of sports history: the opening game against a united Korean selection. The Mercedes-Benz Arena has already been location for several handball Bundesliga games of two times EHF Cup winners Füchse Berlin, each sold-out with 14,800 spectators. In the recent past, Berlin has been the scene of other major handball events such as the opening game of the 2007 IHF Men’s World Championship, the Tokyo Olympic qualifying tournament in March 2021 and the EHF Cup Finals in 2014 and 2015.

Matches of the EHF EURO 2024: 2 groups of the Preliminary Round, one with Germany

Andreas Geisel, Berlin Senator for Interior Affairs and Sport: "It is a great pleasure for all handball fans that the German Handball Federation has once again chosen the sports metropolis of Berlin as a location for the upcoming Men’s EHF EURO 2024 after the great success in 2019. Our city is a proven venue for outstanding sporting events and the hospitable people from Berlin will support the teams in the preliminary round matches in the Mercedes-Benz Arena to the best of their ability.”

Who plays in Berlin?

The German capital will host two preliminary round groups - A and D. The competition will start with the preliminary round group D matches on 11 January 2024 with the matches between Slovenia and EHF EURO debutants Faroe Islands at 18:00 followed by Norway versus Poland at 20:30. Hosts Germany will arrive after the opening match from Düsseldorf to Berlin and on 14 January group A will play their first matches in Mercedes-Benz Arena. On that day, Switzerland will play France and North Macedonia against Germany. 

Matches of the preliminary round in Berlin are played on 11, 13-16 January 2024 at 18:00 and 20:30. All times are local. 

To secure your seat in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, visit tickets.eurohandball.com!