UEFA is considering sweeping changes to the qualification process for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and future European Championships, with plans to introduce a system modelled after the revamped UEFA Champions League format.
The proposed changes would see the current group-stage qualification structure replaced by a league-based model aimed at producing more balanced and competitive fixtures across European international football.
Under the suggested format, Europe’s top 36 national teams would be placed in League A and split into three sections containing 12 teams each.
Rather than facing every team in their group on a home-and-away basis, countries would play six different opponents during the qualifying schedule.
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The redesign is intended to reduce the number of heavily one-sided matches often seen between Europe’s elite sides and lower-ranked nations.
Smaller footballing nations would participate in a separate League B competition, while playoff rounds are still expected to play a role in determining final qualification spots for major tournaments.
Although UEFA has not yet released the complete structure of the qualification process, the winners of the League A groups are likely to secure automatic qualification for the tournament finals.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said the planned reforms are part of efforts to modernise the international game in Europe without increasing the number of dates on the football calendar.
The governing body is reportedly expected to vote on the proposal during an executive committee meeting scheduled for September.
The reforms would also bring significant changes to the UEFA Nations League beginning from the 2028/29 campaign.
Instead of the current four-division setup, the Nations League would reportedly be reorganised into three leagues consisting of 18 teams each. Nations would then face five different opponents during the league phase.
For the 2030 FIFA World Cup, co-hosts Spain and Portugal are expected to receive automatic qualification for the finals, although both countries would still participate in qualifying matches connected to Nations League rankings and objectives.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco are set to jointly host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
