UEFA set to revamp FIFA World Cup 2030 with Champions League-style format

NYON (Switzerland): The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has unveiled plans to introduce a revamped qualification system for European national teams, adopting a Champions League-style format for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and future European Championships.

The new structure, inspired by the ‘Swiss system’ already used in UEFA’s club competitions since the 2024-25 season, aims to make qualification matches more competitive and reduce the number of one-sided fixtures, according to ESPN.

Under the proposed model, the 36 highest-ranked European nations will compete in League A, split into three groups of 12 teams. Each side will play six different opponents rather than facing every team in a traditional group format. League B is expected to consist either of three groups of six teams or two groups of six and one group of seven, depending on the number of participating nations.

22 days to go – All 22 previous @FIFAWorldCup tournaments have been won by teams from…

Europe (12)
South America (10)

Monopoly. #OptaWorldCupCountdown pic.twitter.com/HkHOwHg9UW

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 20, 2026

While UEFA is yet to finalise the complete qualification pathway, it confirmed that the three League A group winners would earn direct qualification to either the UEFA European Championship or FIFA World Cup finals. The remaining qualification spots would be decided through a playoff system involving teams from both leagues.

The format overhaul is expected to keep top-ranked and lower-ranked nations apart during qualifiers, thereby increasing the competitiveness of matches and minimising heavily one-sided contests. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the changes were designed to modernise international football in Europe without increasing the number of international match windows.

UEFA’s executive committee is expected to formally approve the new qualification structure at its meeting in September. Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham, who serves on UEFA’s national teams competition committee, had also backed the need for reform in the qualification process.

Under the proposal, 2030 World Cup co-hosts Spain and Portugal would qualify automatically for the tournament finals but would still participate in the qualification competition with objectives tied to the UEFA Nations League. The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

UEFA also confirmed plans to reshape the UEFA Nations League from the 2028-29 edition onwards. Instead of the current four-tier system, the competition would feature three leagues of 18 teams each. Each league would comprise three groups of six teams, with sides playing five opponents during the league phase. The existing knockout stage format, including quarterfinals, semifinals and final, would continue to be played in the March and June international windows. (ANI)