UEFA announced on Wednesday that the host nations for Euro 2028—England, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—will take part in the tournament’s qualifying rounds despite hosting duties.
However, two spots will be reserved for the best-ranked host nations if they fail to qualify directly.
The European football governing body detailed the qualification format following an executive committee meeting held in Bilbao ahead of the Europa League final. The tournament will feature 24 teams.
According to UEFA, the 12 group winners and the eight best runners-up from the qualifying groups will secure direct places in the Euro 2028 finals, accounting for 20 teams.
“Two spots in the final tournament will be reserved for the two best-ranked host nations who are not qualified as group winners or best runners-up after the completion of the qualifying group stage,” the statement said.
The remaining places will be decided through play-offs involving the other qualifying group runners-up and the highest-ranked non-qualified winners from the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League.
The exact number of playoff spots available will depend on how many host nations qualify directly or take the reserved slots.
This approach mirrors that of Euro 2024, where host Germany qualified automatically and Spain ultimately won the tournament by defeating England in the final held in Berlin.
