UEFA is changing the rules of the game: a revolution in the selection process for Euro qualifying be…

UEFA is changing its rules of competition: A revolution in the selection process for Euro tournaments begins in 2028. UEFA has approved a new format for selecting teams for Euro tournaments and the UEFA Champions League starting from 2028.

From 2028 onwards, the qualifying tournaments for Euro tournaments and the UEFA Champions League will have a new structure. There will be three leagues in the UEFA Champions League, each with 18 teams. The qualifying process will be two-tier: League 1 (36 teams) and League 2 (18–19 teams). The winners of League 1 will qualify directly for the final tournament. The remaining teams will compete in a playoff, where the best teams from League 2 will also have a chance to qualify.

The format will still be refined further. The final decision will be made in September 2026.

Analysis: This reform aims to improve the balance of competition and the commercial appeal of the tournaments. The two-tier qualifying system will reduce the number of matches required. The expanded playoff system will give teams from the second tier a real chance to qualify for the final tournament. It will take another two years to finalize the regulations. But the direction towards more complexity and dynamism in European qualifying has already been set.