Heated stands, a Eurovision stage and the ring where Klitschko twice defended the heavyweight championship of the world. And these are just some of the features that the arena for the England-Switzerland quarterfinal clash boasts. Interestingly, despite this impressive resume, Euro 2024 marks the debut of the Düsseldorf-based venue at an international soccer tournament.

The great absentee of the 2006 World Cup

Düsseldorf Arena was built for the World Cup 2006 stadiums. After Germany was chosen to host the tournament, plans to modernize the then Rheinstadion were abandoned in favor of building a brand new soccer stadium.

The decision was made in 2001, but a year later it became apparent that Düsseldorf was not chosen to host the World Cup. To make matters worse, Fortuna Düsseldorf, the future host of the venue, was relegated to the fourth division. Nonetheless, construction continued, and two years later, on the site of the Rheinstadion, which was demolished in 2002, a facility that could then accommodate 51,500 spectators was completed.

The stadium is still one of the most modern in Germany today. It has a rectangular shape with a transparent white facade. An important amenity is the retractable roof, which, together with a unique heating system, protects spectators and players from adverse weather conditions. As a result, the temperature in the two-level stands in winter does not drop below 15°C.

Right next to the stadium a rail station is located, and on the north side a three-star hotel is literally built into the venue.

© FloK

Event veteran, soccer tournament rookie

Due to the organizers' omission of the venue on the occasion of the 2006 World Cup, for the Düsseldorf stadium, Euro 2024 is the debut of an international soccer tournament. The stadium's tournament capacity is 47,000 seats. The venue has hosted three group stage matches and a 1/8 finals match, and will host the England-Switzerland quarterfinal on July 6.

The full list of Euro 2024 matches played at the Düsseldorf Arena, along with the results, includes:

However, Euro 2024 is not the first event held at the stadium. Other events held here include:

• World Bowl 2005 and 2006 (the equivalent of the Super Bowl for Europe)
• Race of Champions 2010 (motorsports tournament)
• Eurovision 2011
• Heavyweight championship duels of the world in 2010, 2012 (won by Volodymyr Klychko) and 2015 (won by Tyson Fury)
• The opening match of the 2024 European Handball Championship, which set an attendance record for the sport

It is interesting to note that in order to host Eurovision in 2011, a temporary stadium with a capacity of about 20,000 was built next to the Düsseldorf Arena. However, only three league matches and the Germany-Ukraine U17 match were played there.

With Saturday's quarterfinal Düsseldorf Arena will bid farewell to the tournament and with it so will the until now disappointing England led by Jude Bellingham or Switzerland, led by veteran Granit Xhaka.

© Le Baron Bleu