UEFA rules out automatic qualification for Euro 2028 hosts, but safety net in place | OneFootball

England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will not receive automatic entry into the 2028 European Championship tournament despite being co-hosts of the tournament.

UEFA confirmed this decision following its executive committee meeting in Bilbao, outlining a qualifying process that includes all four host nations.

Instead of direct qualification, the co-hosts will compete in the usual qualification phase, with 12 groups of four or five teams vying for 24 spots in the finals.

The group winners and the eight best runners-up will qualify automatically, but a contingency plan is in place in case any of the hosts fail to book their spot.

If any of the four fail to secure a place through the group stage, the two best-ranked among them will be awarded one of two reserved slots in the tournament.

If the reserved spots are not fully used, the remaining places will be decided through a play-off phase involving teams that didn’t qualify automatically but performed well in the Nations League.

However, the format of the play-offs will vary depending on the number of spots needed for the hosts. It will range from eight to 12 teams, and a single-leg semi-finals or two-legged ties will determine the last qualifiers.

England have reached the final of the last two Euros but failed to get over the line. The Three Lions specifically requested to go through the qualification rounds to stay match-fit and competitive.

Scotland made it to the European stage in 2020 and 2024, Wales qualified in 2016 and 2020, while Ireland featured in 2012 and 2016, so none of the four hosts are strangers to the tournament.

Northern Ireland was initially part of the five-nation bid but will not host any games after withdrawing Belfast’s Casement Park from the list of venues.

The full tournament schedule for Euro 2028 will be announced later this year.