UEFA has revealed the qualification process for the 2028 European Championship, confirming that host nations England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland will not receive automatic entry into the tournament. Instead, all four teams will have to secure their spots through the traditional qualifying stages.
Unlike previous editions where host nations were granted direct qualification, UEFA has opted for a different approach due to the unique multi-nation hosting arrangement.
With four countries sharing hosting duties, awarding automatic berths to all would significantly reduce the number of available slots for other competing nations. As a result, the governing body has decided that all teams, including the hosts, must compete in the qualifiers.
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A total of 24 teams will compete in EURO 2028, with 20 spots decided through the standard qualifying phase. 12 teams will advance as group winners, 8 additional teams will qualify as the best-ranked runners-up.
The remaining four places will be allocated as follows:
1. Two spots will be reserved for the highest-ranked host nations that fail to qualify directly.
2.Two more spots will be determined through play-offs, involving teams that finished as runners-up in qualifying and those with strong performances in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League but did not secure direct qualification.
The exact number of play-off spots will depend on how many host nations successfully qualify through the regular process.
The full qualification schedule is expected to be finalized this autumn, with matches likely to begin in 2026. This decision ensures a fair and competitive pathway for all nations while maintaining the prestige of the tournament.
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For the host nations, the pressure is now on to perform in qualifying—ensuring their fans won’t miss out on a home EURO 2028.
Meanwhile, defending champions Italy and other European heavyweights will also battle for their place in what promises to be a fiercely contested qualification campaign.
