UEFA is scrapping the old World Cup and Euro qualifying format, and the days of heavy mismatches between top nations and minnows like San Marino and Andorra are over.
Starting in the 2028-29 season, right after Euro 2028, the new qualifying structure will be based on the most recent Nations League rankings. It also borrows the Swiss system format already running across UEFA club competitions, placing teams into larger groups for more competitive matchups throughout qualifying campaigns.
The change means bigger nations will no longer rack up cricket scores against the smallest federations. Instead, every qualifying game should carry more weight and genuine tension.
UEFA confirmed the new format after the Guardian first reported the plans back in April. No more 10-0 walkovers, no more dead rubbers in week one. European qualifying football is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Source: Original Article