UEFA's Executive Committee has approved significant changes to the format of men's national team competitions at a meeting in Istanbul. The new system will take effect from 2028.
Under the new rules, European and World Cup qualifiers will be split into two leagues. Based on Nations League results, the top 36 teams will compete in League 1, divided into three groups of 12, each playing six matches.
Group winners in League 1 will qualify directly for the tournaments. Other spots will be determined via playoffs, involving the best teams from League 2. Final details will be confirmed by September 15.
The Nations League structure will also change from the 2028/29 season: three leagues of 18 teams each, with groups of six teams playing six matches each. The playoff format remains unchanged.
Host nations will automatically qualify for the main tournament but will still participate in qualifiers to influence their Nations League seeding.
