UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying

Qualifier for UEFA Euro 2028 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying tournament is an upcoming football competition that will determine the 24 UEFA member men's national teams in the UEFA Euro 2028 final tournament. The competition will be linked with the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League, giving countries a secondary route to qualify for the final tournament.[1]

Dates25 March 2027 – 28 March 2028
Teams54 scheduled
Quick facts Tournament details, Dates ...
UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying
Tournament details
Dates25 March 2027 – 28 March 2028
Teams54 scheduled
← 2024
2032 →
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All 54 unsuspended UEFA member associations may enter the qualifying process.

Teams

54 UEFA member associations are eligible to compete in the qualifying competition, including the four host nations:[1]

Russia were suspended from UEFA competitions on 28 February 2022 due to their invasion of Ukraine[2] and cannot compete until such sanction is lifted. However, a decision to lift the suspension may yet be made, before the final confirmation of the participation list.[3]

Format

More information Qualification method, Teams ...
Summary of qualifiers
Qualification methodTeams
Group winners12
Best group runners-up8
Host nations who fail to qualify0–2
Play-off winners2–4
Total24
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The national teams will be divided into twelve groups, with each group containing four or five teams. The group stage draw is expected to take place following the conclusion of the league phase of the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League. Teams, which have advanced to the quarter-finals of the UNL will be drawn into a group of four teams, since the quarter-finals of UNL will take place simultanoulsy to matchdays 1+2, wich only will be played by the 5-team groups. The qualifying group stage will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format in 2027. Twenty teams will qualify directly for the final tournament: the twelve group winners, along with the eight best-ranked runners-up.[1]

The host nations—England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—will participate in the qualifying group stage but will be drawn into separate groups. Two spots in the final tournament are reserved for the two best-ranked host nations (based on the overall qualifying group stage rankings) that fail to qualify as group winners or among the eight best runners-up.[1]

The remaining spots (between two and four, depending on host nation qualification) will be determined through play-offs in March 2028. The play-offs will include the remaining runners-up from the qualifying groups (between two and four, depending on whether hosts are amongst these teams) and the best-ranked non-qualified group winners from the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League. The play-off structure depends on the number of host nation slots used:[1]

  • If both reserved host nation slots are used: Eight teams compete in two play-off paths, each with single-leg semi-finals and a final, for two final tournament spots. Teams are:
    • 2–4 of the worst group runners-up
    • 4–6 Nations League qualifiers
  • If one reserved host nation slot is used: Twelve teams compete in three play-off paths, each with single-leg semi-finals and a final, for three final tournament spots. Teams are:
    • 8 or 9 Nations League qualifiers
    • 4 or 3 of the worst group runners-up
  • If no reserved host nation slots are used: Eight teams (four via the Nations League) contest four home-and-away play-off ties, with the four winners qualifying for the final tournament. Teams are:
    • The 4 worst group runners-up
    • 4 Nations League qualifiers

Tiebreakers for group ranking

If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied:[4]

  1. Higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question;
  2. Superior goal difference in matches played among the teams in question;
  3. Higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question;
  4. If, after having applied criteria 1 to 3, teams still had an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 3 were reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams in question to determine their final rankings.[a] If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 5 to 11 apply;
  5. Superior goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Higher number of away goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Higher number of wins in all group matches;
  9. Higher number of away wins in all group matches;
  10. Fair play conduct in all group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card);
  11. Position in the UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking.

Notes

  1. [a]
    When there are two or more teams tied in points, criteria 1 to 3 are applied. After these criteria are applied, they may define the position of some of the teams involved, but not all of them. For example, if there is a three-way tie on points, the application of the first three criteria may only break the tie for one of the teams, leaving the other two teams still tied. In this case, the tiebreaking procedure is resumed, from the beginning, for those teams that are still tied.

Criteria for overall ranking

To determine the overall rankings of the European Qualifiers, results against teams in fifth place are discarded and the following criteria are applied:[4]

  1. Position in the group;
  2. Higher number of points;
  3. Superior goal difference;
  4. Higher number of goals scored;
  5. Higher number of goals scored away from home;
  6. Higher number of wins;
  7. Higher number of wins away from home;
  8. Fair play conduct (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card);
  9. Position in the UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking.

Schedule

Below is the schedule of the UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying campaign.[5]

More information Stage, Matchday ...
Stage Matchday Dates
Groups of 4 Groups of 5
Qualifying group stage N/a Matchday 1 26–27 March 2027
Matchday 2 29–30 March 2027
Matchday 3 11–12 June 2027
Matchday 4 14–15 June 2027
Matchday 5 23–25 September 2027
Matchday 6 26–28 September 2027
Matchday 7 29 September – 2 October 2027
Matchday 8 3–5 October 2027
Matchday 9 11–13 November 2027
Matchday 10 14–16 November 2027
Play-offs Semi-finals 23–25 March 2028
Finals 26–28 March 2028
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Draw

The qualifying group stage draw will take place on 6 December 2026 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[6]

As per the latest UEFA regulations, teams will be seeded based on their interim 2026-27 UEFA Nations League ranking. All hosts will be drawn into different groups.

Pot 1 or Pot 2

Pot 2 or Pot 3

Pot 3 or Pot 4

Pot 5

To be determined

Groups

The groups of the qualification are:

Group A

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 A4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group B

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 B3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 B4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Close
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group C

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 C1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 C4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group D

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 D2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 D3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group E

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 E1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 E2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 E3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 E4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group F

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 F1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 F2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 F3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 F4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group G

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 G1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 G2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 G3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 G4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 G5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group H

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 H1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 H2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 H3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 H4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 H5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group I

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 I1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 I2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 I3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 I4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 I5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Close
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group J

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 J1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 J2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 J3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 J4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 J5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group K

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 K1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 K2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 K3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 K4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 K5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Close
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Group L

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to UEFA Euro 2028
2 L2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible UEFA Euro 2028 based on ranking
3 L3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 L4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 L5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Close
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UEFA

Ranking of final tournament hosts

Two spots in the final tournament will be reserved for the host teams who failed to qualify directly from the group stage. If more than two host teams not qualify directly, the two spots will be allocated to the hosts ranked highest in the European Qualifiers overall rankings. If only one or neither of the spots be used, the remaining spot(s) will be reallocated via the play-offs.[4]

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2  Republic of Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Scotland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: March 2027. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fourth in the group, 1) Group position; 2) Points; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Wins; 7) Away wins; 8) Lower disciplinary points; 9) Higher position in the Nations League interim overall ranking.

Ranking of second-placed teams

More information Pos, Grp ...
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification[a]
1 A Second place Group A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualify for final tournament
2 B Second place Group B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C Second place Group C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D Second place Group D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E Second place Group E 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F Second place Group F 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 G Second place Group G 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 H Second place Group H 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 I Second place Group I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to play-offs
10 J Second place Group J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 K Second place Group K 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 L Second place Group L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Close
First match(es) will be played: March 2027. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fourth in the group, 1) Group position; 2) Points; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Wins; 7) Away wins; 8) Lower disciplinary points; 9) Higher position in the Nations League interim overall ranking.
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Should a host team finish as one of the four worst second-placed teams, they could qualify directly for the final tournament via a host slot depending on their ranking amongst the other hosts. In this case, the unused play-off slot will be allocated to an additional team via the Nations League ranking.

Play-offs

Slot allocation

Depending on the number of places available, places in the play-offs are allocated as follows:

  • Between two and four play-off places are reserved for the lowest-ranked runners-up of the qualifying group stage.
  • The four to nine remaining places are allocated to group winners from Leagues A, B and C of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League that have not already qualified for the final tournament or the play-offs from the qualifying group stage, based on the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings.
  • If fewer than the required number of group winners of Leagues A, B and C are available to enter the play-offs, the next place is allocated to the League D group winner ranked 49th in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings, unless the team in question has already qualified for the final tournament or the play-offs.
  • Any remaining play-off places are allocated to the highest-ranking teams in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings that have not already qualified for the final tournament or the play-offs.

Draw procedure for the play-offs

The UEFA administration conducts a draw to allocate the participating teams to the play-off paths or, if home and away ties are formed, the play-off ties.

If two or three play-off paths are formed, the eight or twelve teams entering the play-offs are ranked in the following order and then divided into four pots for the draw as follows:

  • Runners-up of the qualifying group stage, according to their positions in the overall European Qualifiers rankings;
  • Teams that qualified via the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, according to their positions in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings.

The eight or twelve teams, ranked 1st to 8th or 1st to 12th respectively, are divided into four pots according to the ranking using the above procedure. Each play-off path is composed of two semi-final pairings of one seeded team and one unseeded team: Pot 1 VS Pot 4 and Pot 2 VS Pot 3.

If four play-off ties are formed, two pots are formed for the draw. Pot 1 contains the four runners-up of the qualifying group stage and Pot 2 the four teams that qualified via the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, according to their positions in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings. The winner of semi-final involving Pot 1 team will host the final.

If two host association teams enter the play-offs, they are allocated to separate paths or ties. If qualified for the play-offs and if possible, Northern Ireland will be allocated to a path or tie that does not include a host association team.

Additional principles and conditions may apply, subject to approval by the UEFA Executive Committee.

Scenario 1: Two reserved host nation places used

Eight teams compete in two play-off paths for two final tournament places. The eight play-off places will be distributed as follows if this is the scenario triggered:

More information The reserved host nations finishing in the top two, Worst runners-up tickets ...
The reserved host nations finishing in the top two Worst runners-up tickets UEFA Nations League tickets
0 4 4
1 3 5
2 2 6
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Path A

More information Home team, Score ...
Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Pot 1 team Pot 4 team
Pot 2 team Pot 3 team
Final
Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 1 team Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 2 team
Close

Path B

More information Home team, Score ...
Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Pot 1 team Pot 4 team
Pot 2 team Pot 3 team
Final
Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 1 team Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 2 team
Close

Scenario 2: One reserved host nation place used

Twelve teams compete in three play-off paths for three final tournament places. The twelve play-off places will be distributed as follows if this is the scenario triggered:

More information The reserved host nations finishing in the top two, Worst runner-up tickets ...
The reserved host nations finishing in the top two Worst runner-up tickets UEFA Nations League tickets
0 4 8
1 3 9
Close

Path A

More information Home team, Score ...
Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Pot 1 team Pot 4 team
Pot 2 team Pot 3 team
Final
Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 1 team Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 2 team
Close

Path B

More information Home team, Score ...
Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Pot 1 team Pot 4 team
Pot 2 team Pot 3 team
Final
Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 1 team Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 2 team
Close

Path C

More information Home team, Score ...
Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Pot 1 team Pot 4 team
Pot 2 team Pot 3 team
Final
Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 1 team Winner of semi-final involving the Pot 2 team
Close

Scenario 3: No reserved host nation places used

Eight teams compete in four home-and-away play-off ties for four final tournament places. The four worst runners-up from the group stage will be seeded (hosting the second leg at home) and the four teams from the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League will be unseeded.

Play-off ties

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Seeded team TBD Unseeded team TBD TBD
Seeded team TBD Unseeded team TBD TBD
Seeded team TBD Unseeded team TBD TBD
Seeded team TBD Unseeded team TBD TBD
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References

External links

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