Euro 2012: Guide to the Stadiums in Poland and Ukraine

Fifty-seven days and counting until Euro 2012 kicks off in Poland and Ukraine. While we wait, here's a guide to the eight stadiums set for use in the tournament.

The first game is scheduled for June 8 in Warsaw's National Stadium. The final is scheduled for Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

We have all the info you need for both of those, as well as the other six stadiums that will host group and knockout matches.

Olympic Stadium

City: Kiev, Ukraine

Opened: 1923

Capacity: 70,050

The showpiece of Euro 2012, Olympic Stadium is set to host three Group D matches, a quarterfinal and the final on July 1.

The Group D matches will be held June 11 (Ukraine-Sweden), June 15 (England-Sweden) and June 19 (France-Sweden). The quarterfinal will be held June 24.

Olympic Stadium, which opened in 1923, was closed for renovations from 2008-11. Pop singer Shakira opened the renovated stadium with a concert on Oct. 9, 2011, and the first match was a 3-3 friendly draw between Ukraine and Germany.

Renovations included a completely rebuilt lower tier, a new west stand with press area and a roof covering all seating areas.

Interior views can be found here and here. An exterior view is here.

National Stadium

City: Warsaw, Poland

Opened: 2012

Capacity: 58,500

Warsaw's National Stadium was built specifically for Euro 2012. Construction began in 2008 after the demolition of the old Stadion Dziesieciolecia and finished—after several delays—in January 2012.

The first match held at the new stadium was a scoreless draw between Poland and Portugal in a friendly international.

In addition to the eye-catching facade lighting, National Stadium features modern amenities like a heated pitch, a moveable roof and underground parking.

It will host Euro 2012's opening match—between Poland and Greece—on June 8. Two more Group A matches will be played there, along with a quarterfinal and semifinal.

Click here for an interior view and here for a picture taken during construction.

PGE Arena

City: Gdansk, Poland

Opened: 2011

Capacity: 43,615

PGE Arena in Gdansk was also built specifically for Euro 2012. It opened in July 2011, with the first match being held a month later.

Three Group C matches will be held at PGE: Spain-Italy (June 10), Spain-Ireland (June 14) and Croatia-Spain (June 18). It will also host a quarterfinal between the winner of Group B and the runner-up of Group A.

The stadium's most recognizable feature is the gold-colored exterior, which was made from polycarbonate multiwall sheet. Click here and here for close-up views.

For interior views, click here and here.

Donbass Arena

City: Donetsk, Ukraine

Opened: 2009

Capacity: 52,518

Donbass Arena, the home stadium of Shakhtar Donetsk, opened in 2009. The name refers to the Donets Basin region of Ukraine in which the stadium resides.

The stadium's most noticeable feature is its UFO-like exterior that lights up at night. Click here for an interior view.

Donbass will host three Group D matches, a quarterfinal and a semifinal. The Group D matches will be France-England (June 11), France-Ukraine (June 15) and England-Ukraine (June 19).

Municipal Stadium (Wroclaw)

City: Wroclaw, Poland

Opened: 2011

Capacity: 42,771

One of two Municipal Stadiums in use this summer, the stadium at Wroclaw will host three Group A matches. The stadium, which opened in September 2011, is the home of Polish club Slask Wroclaw.

Inside, fans can visit the VIP lounge. Click here to view it, and click here for a panoramic shot of the interior.

The three Group A matches will be Czech Republic-Russia (June 8), Czech Republic-Greece (June 12) and Poland-Czech Republic (June 16).

Metalist Stadium

City: Kharkiv, Ukraine

Opened: 1926

Capacity: 38,633

Metalist Stadium, the home of FC Metalist Kharkiv, opened in 1926 and reopened after renovations in 2009.

Renovations included completion of the south stand, a rebuilt east stand and roof replacement. The new south stand holds a three-story shopping mall.

The ground will host three Group B matches: Netherlands-Denmark (June 9), Netherlands-Germany (June 13) and Portugal-Netherlands (June 17).

Click here for an interior view and here for an alternate exterior view.

Municipal Stadium (Poznan)

City: Poznan

Opened: 1980

Capacity: 43,269

Poznan is the site of Euro 2012's other Municipal Stadium, which will host three matches in Group C. Opened in 1980, Municipal Stadium underwent extensive renovations from 2003-2010.

Click here to see some of the renovations, and here for an impressive interior view.

Poznan will host Ireland-Croatia (June 10), Italy-Croatia (June 14) and Italy-Ireland (June 18).

Arena Lyiv

City: Lyiv, Ukraine

Opened: 2011

Capacity: 34,915

Arena Lyiv, which was built for the tournament, opened in October 2011 and hosted its first game—a 2-1 Ukraine friendly win over Austria—the following month. It is the smallest Euro 2012 venue.

"Arena Lyiv" is only a temporary name. The official name still has not been announced.

Click here for a picture of the interior.

Lyiv will host three matches in Group B: Germany-Portugal (June 9), Denmark-Portugal (June 13) and Denmark-Germany (June 17).