Key Takeaways
- Uefa wants a new qualifying system for the men’s European Championship after Euro 2028.
- A Nations League-style plan, like the one used in women’s World Cup qualifying, is the leading idea.
- Top countries back the change, but smaller nations fear fewer glamour games.
European football bosses are ready to scrap the traditional Euro qualifying groups and replace them with a league system similar to the UEFA Nations League.
Officials told national team chiefs about the plan in Switzerland on Tuesday. Each country will now debate the idea in small meetings before the Uefa executive committee votes in Istanbul ahead of next month’s Europa League final.
People inside the talks say the present qualifying campaign feels dull. Big teams such as England rarely lose, so broadcasters and fans lose interest. A working group led by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has spent months looking at fresh models.
The favourite option copies the women’s World Cup path. Teams would be split into three leagues using recent Nations League rankings. Each league would then hold groups of four, so sides of similar strength play one another. League A winners would book an automatic place at Euro 2028, while a larger playoff pool would decide the rest of the 24 finalists.
Other ideas, including the “Swiss system” seen in the Champions League, are still on the table but have less TV support. Smaller nations worry the new set-up could freeze them out of high-profile matches, so talks may be tense.
No extra games will be added, yet insiders say the switch cannot be finished before Euro 2028 qualifying starts next March. If approved, the change would begin with the race to Euro 2032.
