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| epa10911066 The UEFA Euro trophy is pictured after the UK and Ireland were elected to host the Euro 2028 fooball tournament during the UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 hosts announcement ceremony at UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, 10 October 2023. EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT |
UEFA have announced the qualifying system to enter the EURO 2028 tournament, with news host nations England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will not be given automatic participation.
As is often to case now, the competition will be hosted not by a single nation, but with a combination of different countries sharing the venues.
Italy and Turkey will be co-hosts for the EURO 2032 tournament.
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| epa10911065 The UEFA Euro trophy is pictured after Italy and Turkey were elected to host the Euro 2032 fooball tournament during the UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 hosts announcement ceremony at UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, 10 October 2023. EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT |
Number of EURO 2028 co-hosts poses problem for UEFA
In the case of EURO 2028, it will be England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
As having all four of those given an automatic berth would reduce the options for others, UEFA has confirmed they will all have to come through qualifying.
Italy are vying to be one of the 20 nations qualifying for the competition, with 12 going through as group winners, and eight as the best-placed runners-up.
There are four remaining spots to be assigned, two will go to the two best-ranked host nations who failed to qualify directly.
Another two are assigned via play-offs between the remaining runners-up and the sides who ranked best in the 2026-27 Nations League, but still didn’t qualify as group winners.
This means the number of spots open via the play-offs will depend on how many of the co-host nations qualify.
The qualification schedule should be finalised this autumn.
EURO 2024 was won by Spain.
- Susy Campanale
