EURO 2028: Host nations to compete alongside others in qualifiers
UEFA has revealed the qualifying system for the EURO 2028 tournament, which will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.
In a departure from traditional hosting norms, none of the host nations will receive automatic participation in the tournament. Instead, all four countries will have to navigate the qualifying process alongside other competing nations.
The qualification format will feature 20 participating nations, with 12 teams qualifying as group winners and eight as the best-placed runners-up.
The remaining four spots will be determined through a combination of host nation performance and play-offs.
The two best-ranked host nations that fail to qualify directly will secure two of the remaining spots, while the other two will be assigned via play-offs between the remaining runners-up and top-ranked teams from the 2026-27 Nations League that didn't qualify as group winners.
This format means that the number of spots available through play-offs will depend on the performance of the co-host nations in the qualifying process. The qualification schedule is expected to be finalized this autumn.
Italy and Turkey have already been confirmed as co-hosts for the EURO 2032 tournament.
The EURO 2028 tournament promises to be an exciting event, with the host nations facing stiff competition from other European teams vying for a spot in the tournament.
