One year after Euro 2024 in Germany (and thirteen months before the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico), UEFA unveiled the qualifying system for the next European Nations Championship. Euro 2028 “UK & Ireland” will be held in the United Kingdom-the country which brings together England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland-and in the Republic of Ireland.
The nine stadiums have already been chosen and there are a few surprises. The tournament will be disputed in London, Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (but not at the Emirates Stadium), in Manchester, Etihad Stadium (and not at Old Trafford), in Liverpool, Everton Stadium but not in Anfield, Newcastle (St James' Park), Birmingham (Villa Park) that Glasgow (Hampden Park), Dublin (Aviva Stadium) and Cardiff (Millennium stadium).
The four host nations, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, will compete in the playoffs of “their” European championship, but UEFA however offers them a joker. To obtain the 24 Euro participants, the qualifications will give 12 groups of four or five teams. The 12 winners and the best eight seconds will be qualified, but two additional tickets will be given to the two best host nations that have not qualified.
The four countries of Euro 2028 qualified?
The four organizers are therefore likely to qualify. England, 4th in the FIFA world ranking and third European team, should not have trouble qualifying directly. The Welshmen are 16th Europeans, the 24th Europeans and the Irish 28th Europeans. With the two additional possible tickets, they can largely avoid the March 2028 dams. Northern Ireland, which does not organize a meeting, will not benefit from these two “British tickets”. The team led by Conor Bradley (Liverpool's right side) will have a lot to do in his group since the North Irish selection is 34th European nation.
The number of qualifies at the end of 2027 (this can therefore be 20, 21 or 22) will determine the format of the dams. Three different formats of Playoffs are already defined: four round-trip dams for four qualified, three Final Four for three sesames and two Final Four for as many happy elected officials. The four less good second of qualifications will be joined by four or eight teams drafted via the League of Nations 2026-2027.
The host countries of the next two European Nations Championships.
