European and World Cup qualification could soon undergo a radical transformation, with UEFA evaluating the introduction of a single-league format similar to the revamped Champions League system.
According to Sport Bild, the idea aims to make the qualification process more competitive and less predictable. Under this potential format, an algorithm would determine each national team’s opponents, while all nations would be ranked in one overall table, mirroring the structure now used in UEFA’s three main club competitions.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin indirectly confirmed the ongoing discussions, saying: “I do not believe that the European Championship itself will change, it will remain with 24 teams and a knockout phase, but perhaps the qualification matches could be different. There will not be more matches, but rather a more interesting format. We are thinking about it.”
The proposal, reportedly raised by an English representative during a meeting in Malaga, would also apply to European qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup. If approved, it could come into effect after Euro 2028, meaning the new system might debut in qualifying for the 2030 World Cup.
UEFA’s National Teams Competitions Committee has already established a working group to explore the various options. The group will meet at the end of October to present a detailed report and recommendations to the UEFA Executive Committee on 3 December.
Such a shift would represent one of the most significant overhauls in international football’s modern era, potentially replacing decades of traditional qualifying groups with a single, dynamic European league table.
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