Khaberni - A media report stated that UEFA is considering a new system for the qualifiers for the European Nations Championship "Euro", largely inspired by the system used in the UEFA Nations League. A decision is expected before the European League final in Istanbul next month.
With "Euro 2028" being held in the United Kingdom and Ireland, UEFA has already started planning for the future.
UEFA considering a new system
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, UEFA is reconsidering the qualifying system for the European Nations Championship. Reports indicate that there is strong internal support for the idea of adopting a system inspired by the UEFA Nations League, making it more dynamic and competitive than the traditional qualifying format.
UEFA presented the initial plans to the National Teams Competitions Committee last Tuesday. The federations will review and discuss the proposal in the coming days. A final decision may be taken before the European League final in Istanbul next month.
Over time, the qualifying system for the Euro has lost its appeal, as major teams often qualify without any notable difficulties, especially after the increase
in the number of teams qualifying for the finals of both the Euro and the World Cup.
To revive interest in these qualifiers, UEFA could adopt a system similar to that used in the Nations League or the Women's World Cup qualifiers. According to this proposal, teams would be divided into 3 tiers (leagues), then each tier into groups. Under this system, major teams would directly qualify for the final tournament, while other teams would play in playoffs to qualify.
With this new system, 24 teams would qualify for the Euro, meaning the possibility of allocating additional seats, allowing for matches between the strongest teams on the continent. However, this could lead smaller teams to feel more isolated.
Although maintaining the current system is still under consideration, UEFA is becoming more skeptical about this option. England, for example, is one of the countries interested in changing the qualifying system.
Finally, another idea has emerged within this change, known as "the Swiss system", similar to what is used in the UEFA Champions League, although broadcasters are very skeptical about this proposal, as it could lead to significant imbalances in the level of competition between teams.
