More danger for top nations?
UEFA is apparently planning a revolution in qualifying for major tournaments
October 22, 2025 – 9:16 a.mReading time: 1 min.
With the Champions League, UEFA has successfully reformed one of its competitions. There could now also be changes in the European Championship and World Cup qualifications.
UEFA could fundamentally change qualification for the European Championships and World Cup. According to a report by “Sport Bild”, a new format is being discussed internally that is based on the Champions League model – including a league phase before knockout games.
Accordingly, the European Football Union sees a problem in the current group structure: the two top favorites usually prevail there. With a reform the aim is apparently to achieve more excitement and thus greater attention among fans and TV broadcasters.
According to “Sport Bild”, a new group with representatives of the 55 member associations is currently working on concrete proposals. A new format could then be decided by the UEFA Executive Committee. DFL boss Hans-Joachim Watzke also sits on the committee.
According to the report, Uefa President Aleksander Čeferin said at a football trade fair in Portugal: There is no talk of more games, but of a more interesting structure. “Maybe the qualifying games could look different. There won’t be more games, but a more interesting format. We’re thinking about that right now,” Ceferin is quoted as saying.
However, the final round of the European Championship itself should remain unchanged. According to Sport Bild, Ceferin said he doesn’t believe “that the European Championship itself will change.”