Euro 2028: Hosts, Qualifying Format and Key Dates
The 2028 UEFA European Championship will be jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, running from June 9 to July 9, 2028. It's the first time the tournament has been hosted across four different national associations.
How Qualifying Works
Unlike most host nations in recent tournament history, none of the four co-hosts get automatic qualification. UEFA ruled in 2025 that England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will all compete in the standard 2026–2027 qualifying campaign alongside every other UEFA member nation. Twelve qualifying groups of four or five teams will produce the group winners and best runners-up, filling 24 spots in total.
If any of the four co-hosts fail to qualify through the group stage, a safety net applies: the two best-ranked hosts among those who miss out will be awarded reserved spots. If both reserved spots aren't needed, remaining places go through a play-off phase involving strong Nations League performers who didn't qualify outright.
This means it's genuinely possible, if unlikely, that a host nation misses its own tournament. For more on which teams are worth watching heading into qualifying, see our Euro 2028 teams to watch page.
Why This Tournament Is Different
Past Euros almost always guaranteed the host nation a spot. This one doesn't. That alone makes the qualifying campaign worth following even before a ball is kicked in the tournament proper, particularly for host-nation storylines around Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, all of which have a real chance of missing a home tournament entirely.
Key Dates
- 2026-2027: Qualifying campaign
- June 9 - July 9, 2028: Tournament proper, across venues in England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.
As qualifying unfolds, check our free picks and parlays for the soccer matches that matter right now.