Euro 2028 Qualifying Draw, Format & Dates

Qualifying decides who plays at Euro 2028. The groups are drawn on 6 December 2026 in Belfast and played from March to November 2027. The last places are decided in the play-offs in March 2028.

Teams play home and away in twelve groups of four or five. The twelve group winners and the eight best runners-up qualify directly for Euro 2028. The last four of the 24 places go to up to two hosts that do not qualify directly and to the winners of the play-offs in March 2028, which feature the remaining runners-up and teams from the Nations League.

England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland do not qualify automatically and take part in qualifying. Two places are reserved for hosts that do not qualify as group winners or as one of the eight best runners-up. If more than two hosts miss direct qualification, their qualifying ranking decides.

The twelve groups are drawn on 6 December 2026. Once they are known, you will find all groups, fixtures and tables here. Until then, the FIFA ranking for Europe shows how strong the teams currently are.