<div class="content">UEFA has proposed a major overhaul of the qualifying system for the 2030 World Cup and Euro 2032 to reduce mismatches between top and lower-ranked national teams.

UEFA has proposed a major overhaul of the qualifying system for the 2030 World Cup and Euro 2032 to reduce mismatches between top and lower-ranked national teams. The plan would introduce a new top tier featuring the continent’s 36 strongest sides, grouped into three leagues of 12 teams each and modeled on the Champions League format. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin had signaled last year that such changes were needed because many existing qualifying groups had become predictable for both fans and broadcasters. Lopsided scorelines such as France’s 14-0 win over Gibraltar in a Euro 2024 qualifier and Austria’s 10-0 victory against San Marino in a 2026 World Cup qualifier prompted the governing body to seek a more competitive structure. Under the proposal, the 36 elite teams would each play six matches against six different opponents drawn from three seeding pots, producing a single 12-team league table per group. The schedule would fit within existing FIFA international windows from September to November without increasing player workloads. The 36 highest-ranked teams would be separated from sides ranked 37 to 55, which would compete in a lower tier and retain a playoff route to major tournaments. UEFA did not specify how many direct qualifying places each 12-team group would offer. Europe is expected to receive 16 slots in the 48-team 2030 World Cup, co-hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The concept will be refined over the coming months and presented for final approval at UEFA’s next Executive Committee meeting in September. A decision is anticipated following the current review process.