The match was the seventeenth final of the European Championship, a quadrennial tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA to decide the champions of Europe.

[5][6] In front of a crowd of 65,600, Spain won the match 2–1 for their record-breaking fourth UEFA European Championship title (after 1964, 2008 and 2012), surpassing Germany as the sole record-winners of the competition.

On 27 September 2018, UEFA announced the 2024 tournament would be held in Germany after they had defeated Turkey in the host selection vote in Nyon, Switzerland.

It also served as the official opening match venue for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup[14] as well as the 2015 UEFA Champions League final between Barcelona and Juventus.

By starting this match, Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to make an appearance at a UEFA European Championship final tournament.

[18] They then rounded off their group stage campaign with another 1–0 win over Albania at the Merkur Spiel-Arena with the lone goal scored by Ferran Torres in the 13th minute, with Spain manager Luis de la Fuente making wholesale changes to the starting eleven due to Spain having already secured top-spot in their group.

Mikel Merino scored with a header in the 119th minute to send Spain through to the semi-finals and eliminate Julian Nagelsmann's hosts at the last-eight stage.

Spain won this time with Randal Kolo Muani opening the scoring for the French with a header in the 9th minute, but Yamal then equalised for the Spanish in the 21st minute with a shot to the left corner from outside the penalty area, Olmo then scored the winner for Spain in the 25th minute – this was originally given as a Jules Koundé own goal but after a review was given to Olmo – this sent Spain through to their first UEFA European Championship final since the UEFA Euro 2012 final against Italy which they won 4–0.

England opened their campaign with a 1–0 win over Serbia at the Arena AufSchalke, with Jude Bellingham scoring with a header in the 13th minute.

Kane then equalised after a controversial penalty kick was awarded for a foul on him by Denzel Dumfries following a video assistant referee review in the 18th minute.

[30] Their most recent encounter in a senior men's major tournament was the Euro 1996 quarter-final, which England won 4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.

Spain's only victory over England in a major tournament was a 1–0 win in the 1950 FIFA World Cup group stage match.

[35] Downing Street also confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, would also attend.

[36] He was accompanied by Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Debbie Hewitt, chairwoman of the Football Association.

Targeting the same area, behind Spanish defender Marc Cucurella, England won the ball in the 21st minute but quickly lost it again under pressure from Dani Olmo.

Yamal's shot was blocked for a corner, off which England gained possession and launched a counter-attack that was ended when Dani Carvajal fouled Saka.

Soon after, Kyle Walker was fouled to give England a free kick 35 yards from goal; Rice's cross found Phil Foden at the back post, whose tight-angled shot was saved.

Yamal still had the ball, sending in a low shot from the edge of the area that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford pushed around the post for a corner.

After taking the ball from England in the midfield in the 82nd minute, Spain took it to the edge of the box, with Olmo and Williams combining to dummy and let it run in for Yamal, whose curling shot was again saved by Pickford.

Both teams then made substitutions, England adding another forward in Ivan Toney and Spain taking off Yamal.

Giorgio Chiellini, Italy's winning Euro 2020 captain and a former teammate of Morata, brought the trophy onto the pitch for the ceremony.

[58] The Spanish team celebrated their victory with a parade through Madrid on an open-top bus to Plaza de Cibeles the day after the final on 15 July, attended by thousands.

[59][60] The team met with King Felipe VI, the Spanish royal family and the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez.

[62] Emlyn Begley of BBC Sport wrote that Spain's triumph was unanimously seen as "fully deserved", as the team had won all seven games without going to a penalty shootout, against difficult opposition.

[63][64] Gary Neville said "it feels like a never-ending story where we just can't get over the line" and described a sense of "rinse and repeat" of England failing to keep the ball well enough at major championships.

[63] De la Fuente praised his side and said they had been "infallible" and did "everything right",[66] adding "these players have made history and they still have a long way to go" and that "this group can keep growing because they do not tire of hard work, competing and trying to win.

"[68] England manager Gareth Southgate praised his team for their efforts but admitted they "fell short", saying "we had an opportunity to win and we haven't been able to take it".

[70] Captain Harry Kane said they had done well to get back into the game, adding "We could have used that momentum to push on", concluding: "It's as painful as it could be in a football match.

"[68] Jude Bellingham said they had sacrificed a lot throughout the last weeks and admitted feeling "mentally and physically exhausted" and "absolutely dead".

[71] King Charles III congratulated the England team in a letter addressed to Southgate, calling it "a really great achievement in itself" to reach the final.