Men’s tournament could follow Women’s World Cup method
New format would likely come in after Euro 2028
An adapted version of the Nations League format is front runner among several options being considered for a revamp of the men’s European Championship qualifiers, which face an overhaul likely to be implemented after Euro 2028.
The Guardian understands the plans were presented to Uefa’s national team competitions committee on Tuesday and will now be considered by individual Football Associations, who will discuss them in smaller groups over the coming days. A final decision will be taken by the Uefa executive committee in Istanbul before next month’s Europa League final.
There has been concern for some time that current qualifying formats for international competitions are unappealing to fans and television rights holders. They have largely become routine for bigger countries, particularly since the increase in finals spots for European Championships and World Cups. A working group, including the FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has been studying fresh options for several months but finding consensus across the continent may not be straightforward.
