Overview
- UEFA’s Executive Committee validated the concept on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, endorsing a two-tier qualifying model that will replace traditional home-and-away groups.
- Under the proposal the top 36 European teams form League 1, split into three groups of 12 where each team plays six single home-or-away matches against six different opponents.
- The Nations League will be reworked from 2028/29 into three leagues of 18 teams each, with three groups of six and the same six-match league-phase format plus promotion and relegation.
- UEFA confirmed group winners in League 1 will take direct qualification spots and other places will be settled by cross-league play-offs, but the exact number of automatic slots per group is still unset.
- UEFA says the changes are meant to reduce blowouts and dead matches without adding international windows; rankings for league placement will come from the 2028 Nations League and final sign-off is expected in September before implementation after Euro 2028.