Host nations England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will not automatically qualify for Euro 2028, UEFA have confirmed. Unlike previous Euros that have seen the hosts qualify automatically, UEFA has altered its protocols given the tournament is being held across four nations.

EURO 2028’s qualification system isn’t just a path to the finals, it’s a high-stakes game in itself. Here's what’s changing and why it matters.

UEFA’s Executive Committee has approved a new qualifying system for the 2028 European Championship, with hosts England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland participating in the preliminaries.