England’s Desire to Participate in Euro 2028 Qualification Despite Hosting Status
England is eager to compete in the qualification process for Euro 2028, even though they are set to be announced as the main host nation for the tournament by UEFA. Traditionally, host nations of major international tournaments are granted automatic qualifying spots. However, UEFA has decided to award only two automatic qualification spots for the 2028 tournament, which will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. UEFA wants all five hosts to participate in the qualifying groups, with the two automatic spots serving as “backstops” for any host nation that fails to qualify.
There are no guarantees that all five host nations will be involved in the finals if more than two of them do not qualify. The Football Association supports this plan, and the UEFA executive committee is expected to give the green light to the five-nation bid on Tuesday. With Turkey withdrawing from the bidding process, the UK and Republic of Ireland bid is now running unopposed. However, official approval from UEFA is still required.
The tournament will be played at ten different stadiums across the five nations, with six venues in England. The proposed stadiums include Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Etihad Stadium, St James’ Park, Villa Park, and Everton’s new home at Bramley-Moore Dock. The other stadiums set to host games are Casement Park in Belfast, Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Hampden Park in Glasgow, and Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Cardiff has been proposed as the venue for the opening game, while Wembley is expected to host both semi-final ties and the final.
One downside of automatic qualification is that it can lead to a succession of meaningless friendlies before a major international tournament. This can harm a team’s chances of winning as they have fewer opportunities to build squad cohesion. Germany’s recent struggles in friendlies and their decision to sack head coach Hansi Flick after a humiliating defeat by Japan highlight the potential risks of relying solely on friendlies. Additionally, playing friendlies instead of competitive qualifiers can harm a team’s FIFA world ranking, making it more difficult to qualify for future tournaments.
Broadcasters will benefit from the plan as meaningful qualifiers are more appealing to viewers than friendlies. ITV recently secured a TV deal with UEFA for England’s internationals until June 2028. The qualification process for Euro 2024 is already underway, with 53 UEFA member associations competing for 23 vacant spots. This number will decrease to 22 spots for Euro 2028. The group stage determines 20 of the 23 teams that will advance to the final tournament, with the top two in each group securing qualification. The remaining three spots are linked to the 2022-23 Nations League.
UEFA’s selection process for the three additional spots involves the performance of teams in the 2022/23 Nations League. Twelve teams will be selected based on their performance, with the group winners of Leagues A, B, and C initially qualifying. If these teams have already qualified, they will be replaced by the next best-ranked team in their league. If there are not enough non-qualified teams in the same league, it will filter down to the next league, ending with League D. However, this process may need to be adjusted if at least two of the home nations fail to qualify for Euro 2028, as there will only be two places available instead of three.
In conclusion, England’s desire to participate in Euro 2028 qualification despite being the host nation reflects their commitment to fair competition and their understanding of the potential downsides of automatic qualification. By engaging in the qualifying process, England aims to build squad cohesion and maintain their FIFA world ranking. The broadcasting industry will also benefit from meaningful qualifiers, and the selection process for the additional spots adds an element of competition and excitement to the tournament. Overall, this approach ensures a level playing field for all participating nations and enhances the quality of the tournament.