UK General Election Announced For During UEFA Euro 2024

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has announced an UK General Election on 4 July during UEFA Euro 2024. 

The announcement ended months of speculation over the date of the election which will take place on Thursday 4 July, yet marks the first UK General Election to be called for during an international men’s football tournament since 1970 FIFA World Cup.

Sunak’s decision to go to the polls also came after King Charles III gave his permission for the UK Parliament to be dissolved, in order for the election to take place.

For UK-based fans, the election by luck falls on a rest day during the Euros which won’t compromise BBC nor ITV’s coverage of either event on 4 July.

The Quarter-Finals will however commence a day later on 5 July with England or Scotland potentially involved in the opening Quarter-Final in Stuttgart, Germany, at 5pm UK Time if either team reach that stage.

Scotland and England though could meet in Round of 16 on Saturday 29 June if Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army miraculously top Group A and Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions finish runner-up in Group C, which would see one home nation involved in the first Quarter-Final in that scenario.

The election will fall a day before the 2024 F1 British Grand Prix although coverage of that event won’t be affected due to Channel 4 and Sky Sports sharing the rights to that event and Channel 4 are very unlikely to cover election results in daytime on 5 July based on past election coverage.

This election will also fall on the fourth day of Wimbledon which is one of Tennis’ four Grand Slam events, marking the first time that an election clashed with Wimbledon since two such clashes in 1892 and 1896 respectively.