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Key Points

The UEFA Executive Committee has officially announced the qualification format for Euro 2028, which will be hosted across nine venues in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Twelve qualifying groups will be created, with host nations England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales participating under special conditions. Twenty teams will advance directly through the group stage, with additional spots determined through a complex play-off system. The tournament will feature 24 teams and promises an exciting path to qualification for national football teams across Europe.

Key Points: UEFA Euro 2028 Qualifying Format Revealed for UK and Ireland

  • 12 qualifying groups will be formed with four or five teams
  • Host nations get special qualification pathways
  • 20 teams to advance directly through group stage
  • Play-offs will determine remaining tournament spots
2 min read

UEFA announce Euro 2028 qualifying format, to be held across nine venues in UK and Ireland

UEFA confirms Euro 2028 qualification process with 24 teams across nine venues in United Kingdom and Ireland

"Twelve qualifying groups will determine tournament participants - UEFA Executive Committee"

Bilbao, May 21

The UEFA Executive Committee confirmed the qualification format, after a meeting in Bilbao on Wednesday, for the 2028 European Championship which will be held across nine venues in the United Kingdom and Ireland with 24 participating teams.

As in the current 2024-26 European Qualifiers, twelve qualifying groups will be formed of four or five teams. Hosts England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will also participate in qualifying, drawn into separate groups.

The 12 group winners and 8 best runners-up (20 teams) will advance directly to the final tournament.

Two spots in the final tournament will be reserved for the two best ranked host nations who are not qualified as group winners or best runners-up after the completion of the qualifying group stage.The remaining spots will be assigned via play-offs between the remaining runners-up in the qualifying groups and the best ranked 2026-27 UEFA Nations League non-qualified group winners.Depending on the number of spots used by the host nations, the number of final tournament spots decided by play-offs may vary between two and four, in three potential scenarios.If both reserved qualifying slots for the hosts are used then Eight teams will compete in two paths for two final tournament spots, with single-leg semi-finals and finals.If one reserved qualifying slot for the hosts is used, then 12 teams will compete in three paths for three final tournament spots, with single-leg semi-finals and finals.If no reserved qualifying slot for the hosts is used, then eight teams contest four home-and-away play-off ties, with the winners advancing to the final tournament.UEFA also announced that the tournament regulations with all remaining details will be published by the end of the year.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Interesting format! Though as an Indian football fan, I wish we had such well-structured tournaments in Asia. The way UEFA organizes everything is so professional. Maybe someday SAFF Cup can reach this level 🤞
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Priya M.
The host nation advantage seems a bit unfair to other teams who might perform better in qualifiers. Why should England or Ireland get automatic spots if they don't qualify normally? Football should be purely merit-based.
A
Arjun S.
Can't wait to watch this tournament! European football is always so exciting. Hope Indian broadcasters don't put it behind paywalls like they do with Premier League matches 😤
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Sneha P.
The qualification process seems unnecessarily complicated. UEFA should simplify it like FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Too many "if this then that" scenarios! 🧐
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Vikram D.
As someone who follows both cricket and football, I appreciate how European football keeps innovating their tournament formats. BCCI could learn a thing or two about transparency from UEFA!
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Neha R.
Exciting news for football fans! Though I wonder if having matches across UK and Ireland will make it difficult for traveling fans. Hope they arrange good transport between venues.

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