England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland DENIED automatic qualification for Euro 2028

England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will have to qualify for Euro 2028 despite hosting the tournament.

But they will be given a second chance if they fail to reach the finals by finishing as winners or runners-up in their qualification groups.

Two spots will be reserved for the two best ranked hosts who have not made it through their groups.

UEFA on Wednesday announced that all four nations will compete in the qualifying phase, with 12 groups of four or five teams battling it out for 24 places.

The 12 group winners and the eight best runners-up will qualify.

Host nations are usually granted automatic qualification but UEFA has had to alter the protocol because there are four.

The fortunes of the host nations will determine how many of the remaining four places are up for grabs in a play-off phase involving the remaining runners-up and the best-ranked 2026-27 Nations League non-qualified group winners.

England, who have reached the final in the last two Euros, asked to take part in the qualifiers so they can keep a competitive edge going into the competition.

Scotland made it to the group stages in 2020 and 2024 while Wales qualified in 2016 and 2020.

The Republic of Ireland's hasn't featured in the last two tournaments but did play in the two previous, in 2012 and in 2016.

Northern Ireland, who also played at Euro 2016, were initially part of the five-nation bid, but the withdrawal of Belfast's Casement Park means the country will no longer host any games.

If both safety net spots are used by host nations, eight other teams would compete for the final two places in two single legged knockout paths.

If just one is needed then 12 teams will compete in three paths in a similar basis.

Meanwhile, if all four host countries qualify through their groups, eight teams will play two-legged ties, with the winners making it through.

Following a meeting in Bilbao, UEFA said: 'The UEFA executive committee has confirmed the qualification format for Euro 2028, to be held across nine venues in the UK and Ireland with 24 participating teams.

'As in the current 2024-26 European Qualifiers, 12 qualifying groups will be formed of four or five teams. Hosts England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales will also participate in qualifying, drawn into separate groups.

'The 12 group winners and 8 best runners-up (20 teams) will advance directly to the Euro 2028 final tournament.

'Two spots in the final tournament will be reserved for the two best-ranked host nations who are not qualified as group winners or best runners-up after the completion of the qualifying group stage.'

The qualifiying groups will be drawn in December 2026, once the National League has concluded.

Nine venues will host the tournament, with the opening game played at the 75,000 seat Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Both semi-finals and the final will take place at Wembley, the same venue where England lost to Italy on penalties in the 2020 Euros final.

Everton’s new home at Bramley Moore Dock, Anfield, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad, Villa Park and St James’ Park are amongst the other English venues.

Dublin's Aviva Stadium and Hampden Park in Glasgow are the Irish and Scottish venues.