Why England will reject automatic qualification for Euro 2028 despite being unveiled as main hosts for tournament
ENGLAND have confirmed to Uefa they want to have to qualify for Euro 2028 - despite being unveiled as the main hosts.
The FA-led five nations bid will be confirmed as the venue for a 51-game tournament at a ceremony at Uefa’s Nyon headquarters.
Six stadiums in England have been earmarked for games, with one each in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The final and both semis will be played at Wembley, with Spurs supplying the second London venue.
Villa Park, St James’ Park, the Etihad Stadium and Everton’s proposed new home at Bramley Moore Dock will complete the English grounds, which will host 28 games between them.
Bid chiefs project the tournament will be worth a stunning £2.6bn to the UK economy and a major boost to all five host nations.
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But rather than being handed an automatic place among the 24 qualifiers, Wembley chiefs have made it clear to Uefa that they are keen for England to have to earn their slot.
That means that all five home nations will all be put into the qualifying draw, due to be held in late 2026.
FA bosses have seen the chaos that has enveloped Germany over the past 12 months as the 2024 hosts struggle with no serious games.
They also believe that playing competitive matches will ensure England are properly match-ready for the tournament - although two years of friendlies did not hamper Terry Venables’ side ahead of Euro 96.
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But another factor is a concern that with other European sides all in qualifying action it would be a serious problem for England to find meaningful opposition for friendly games.
It is understood that the other four British Isles nations agree with the decision.
Two places will be left as “back stops” for any of the five who do not emerge through qualifying, although that could still mean one or two potentially missing out.
The planned fixtures schedule will see the tournament open at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, which will host five more games.
Hampden Park and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium will each get six matches with Casement Park in Belfast handed five matches.
Casement Park, which will have a capacity of just 35,000, will not have any games beyond the last 16 although the quarter-finals will be split across the hosts.
One senior figure in the British game explained: “This is the only way that there’s a chance of all five of us being able to play because you can’t have that many guaranteed places.”
Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson said: “It’s a sensible approach and it keeps everyone sharp.”
