Contested every four years, the UEFA European Championship has been showcasing the continent's top talent since its inception as the UEFA European Nations Cup in 1960.

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Action from the final of UEFA EURO 2012

The inaugural final tournament was a four-team affair, expanding to eight in 1980 and doubling in size again in 1996, to 16. For the first time, 24 sides will contest UEFA EURO 2016 in France.

The format of the competition, including qualifying and the final tournament, is yet to be determined.

Regulations
The regulations for the UEFA European Championship are initially drawn up by the UEFA Administration before being submitted to the UEFA National Team Competitions Committee. They are then forwarded upon that committee's approval to the UEFA Executive Committee for ratification.