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Euro 2028 Qualifying Draw: Date, Format, Groups and How Hosts Qualify

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The Euro 2028 qualifying draw takes place on 6 December 2026 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It will split Europe’s national teams into 12 qualifying groups for the tournament in the UK and Ireland, which runs from 9 June to 9 July 2028. Here is everything you need to know about the draw, the format and how the host nations qualify.

When and Where Is the Euro 2028 Qualifying Draw?

  • Date: Sunday, 6 December 2026
  • Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Groups: 12 groups of four or five teams
  • Qualifiers played: March to November 2027
  • Play-offs: March 2028

Euro 2028 Qualifying Format

Euro 2028 has 24 places. Teams qualify in three ways:

  1. Group winners and runners-up: the 12 group winners and the 8 best second-placed teams qualify directly.
  2. Host places: two places are reserved for the best-ranked host nations that do not qualify through their group.
  3. Play-offs: the remaining places are decided in March 2028 play-offs, involving the other runners-up and Nations League group winners who have not already qualified.

How Do the Host Nations Qualify?

Unlike past hosts, England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland do not qualify automatically. They play in qualifying and are drawn into different groups. If two or more of them fail to qualify through their groups, the two best-ranked of those hosts take the two reserved places. This is why the number of play-off places can change from two to four.

Euro 2028 Play-off Scenarios

  • Both host places used: 8 teams in two play-off paths, 2 places available.
  • One host place used: 12 teams in three paths, 3 places available.
  • No host places used: 8 teams in four home-and-away ties, 4 places available.

Euro 2028 Final Tournament Key Dates

  • Opening match: 9 June 2028, Cardiff
  • Format: 24 teams, six groups of four, then a Round of 16
  • Semi-finals: 4 and 5 July 2028, Wembley
  • Final: 9 July 2028, Wembley Stadium, London

For hosts, stadiums and the full tournament schedule, see our Euro 2028 guide. We will update this page with every group as soon as the draw is made.

FAQs

When is the Euro 2028 qualifying draw?

The draw is on 6 December 2026 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

How many teams qualify for Euro 2028?

24 teams play at Euro 2028. The 12 group winners and 8 best runners-up qualify directly, and the remaining places go to host nations and play-off winners.

When do Euro 2028 qualifiers start?

Qualifying matches start in March 2027 and finish in November 2027.

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