GENEVA — UEFA has proposed a significant revamp of qualifying for the 2030 World Cup and 2032 European Championship designed to eliminate mismatches between the strongest and weakest teams.
The new format would mirror the Champions League structure, addressing concerns raised by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin last year about declining fan and broadcaster interest due to predictable qualifying groups.
Lopsided results that sparked concern included France defeating Gibraltar 14-0 during Euro 2024 qualifying and Austria's 10-0 win over San Marino in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Proposed Top-Tier Structure
Under the proposal, the 36 best-ranked teams would compete in three groups of 12, following the Champions League model.
Each team would play six games against six different opponents and be ranked in a 12-team league table. Teams would be drawn from three seeding pots with a weighted schedule featuring two matches against opponents from each pot.
The format would fit within existing FIFA-mandated schedules from September to November without adding extra games to player workloads.
Separate Pathway for Lower-Ranked Teams
The 36 top teams would not face teams ranked 37th to 55th by UEFA. Those lower-ranked teams could compete in a separate tier with a path through playoffs to qualify for major tournaments.
A decision on the proposed revamp is expected in September following an executive committee meeting on the sidelines of the Europa League final in Istanbul.
"The concept will be fine-tuned over the next few months before being submitted for final approval of the detailed format at the next Executive Committee meeting," UEFA stated.
UEFA did not specify how many direct qualifying places would be awarded from each 12-team group.
Tournament Background
The 2030 World Cup, co-hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco with three opening games in South America, will feature 48 teams. Europe is expected to receive 16 qualifying slots.
FIFA has been asked by South American governing body CONMEBOL to consider expanding the tournament to 64 teams.