UEFA big boss Aleksander Ceferin has been pondering the idea of spicing up the European Championship qualifying process. Last year, England sailed smoothly into the Euros after dominating their qualifying matches, including routine victories against Malta. Ceferin shared his thoughts at the Portugal Football Summit in 2025, hinting at potential changes to the qualification format to make it more thrilling for fans.
Ceferin acknowledged that while there won’t be any additional matches, the format itself could see some modifications to enhance the excitement. Ideas are currently being tossed around within UEFA, although the specifics have not been disclosed to the public yet. The potential changes might draw inspiration from successful models used in other UEFA competitions like the Nations League and the Champions League, where top teams battle it out in competitive settings.
Fans have often been treated to high-stakes clashes in the Nations League, which features a promotion and relegation system, adding an extra layer of drama to the games. Similarly, the revamped Champions League format, with its one-off league phase matches, has produced some thrilling encounters between top clubs. The proposed revamp of the European Championship qualification process comes amidst growing discontent with international breaks, with fans having to endure multiple breaks within the first few months of the season.
Not really sure why this matters, but UEFA seems to be on a mission to shake things up and keep fans on the edge of their seats. The current October international break is set to be axed from next year onwards, as FIFA looks to merge it with the September break to allow for a longer international window. This change aims to accommodate four matches within three weeks for national teams, providing more action for football enthusiasts around the globe. So, get ready for some potentially exciting changes in the European Championship qualifying process, as UEFA explores ways to inject more thrills into the road to the tournament. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of unpredictability in football?
