The European Football Association (UEFA) has approved major changes to the format of European football competitions for men's national teams, to be implemented from 2028 onwards. After a detailed analysis of the existing formats and extensive consultations with all its member associations, UEFA confirmed a new concept that will be applied following the UEFA EURO 2028.

New Format Enhancements

The new formats will improve competitive balance, reduce the number of inconsequential matches, offer more attractive and dynamic competition to fans, and ensure fair chances for qualification for all teams without adding new dates to the international calendar. Overall, these changes are expected to increase the value of UEFA football and are highly anticipated by the organization. "These changes will enhance the value of UEFA football and we are very excited about the implementation of the new competition systems," said Aleksandar Čeferin, UEFA President.

UEFA Nations League Reorganization

In the new structure, the UEFA Nations League (UNL) will transition from its current four leagues to three leagues with 18 teams each. Each league will consist of three groups of six teams, with each team playing six matches against five different opponents: home or away against teams from different groups, and home and away against teams from the same group. With 55 participating teams, League C will include one group of seven teams, whose calendar will start one representative date earlier.

The quarter-finals, final four, and promotion/relegation playoffs will complete the format without changes. European Qualifiers will also have a multi-tiered structure: League 1, consisting of 36 teams from UNL Leagues A and B, and League 2, consisting of the remaining 18 (or 19) teams from the UNL.

In League 1, there will be three groups of 12 teams each, drawn from three groups of 12 teams. Each team will play six matches home or away against six different opponents, two from each group, similar to the format of UEFA club competitions. League 2 will be organized identically to UNL League C, with three groups of six teams each (or one group of seven).

While the hosts will directly qualify for the final tournament, they will participate in European Qualifiers with goals tied to their position in the next edition of the UEFA Nations League. The top-ranked teams from each League 1 group will qualify directly, while the remaining spots will be allocated through a playoff system, ensuring fair chances for placement for teams from League 2.

The concept will be further developed over the next few months before being submitted for final approval of the detailed format at the next Executive Committee meeting in September.