SCOTLAND will be granted automatic qualification for the next European Championships, it’s been reported.
The next Euros don’t take place until 2028 but Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland were confirmed as hosts last year.
Usually, the host nation of a Euros automatically qualifies for the tournament.
But this has typically been when it has been held in one country or, at most, two (last year in Germany and 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, for example).
Euro 2020 was held across the continent and with 11 host countries (including Scotland) there were no automatic berths handed out.
This time however, things look to be different – even though there will be four host nations.
The original bid from the UK & Ireland included Northern Ireland, meaning that there would potentially be five automatic spots for the hosts.
That could have been problematic and as such there was a theory that all of the host nations would have to go through the usual qualification process, but would be offered the reprieve of a play-off if they failed to progress naturally.
Northern Ireland’s host stadium of Casement Park has been hit with several problems, including building delays, and as a result it forced them to pull out of the hosting bid.
Therefore it seems they could be the unlucky ones who will miss out on an automatic place.
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According to The Irish Times, Uefa chiefs are set to grant the four remaining Home Nations automatic entry into Euro 2028 – if they fail to qualify through the normal process.
That suggests Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will still compete in the qualifying section even though their place in the final competition would be assured.
But it’s also been claimed that the idea of a play-off if any of them don’t win their group is not completely off the table.
Uefa’s executive committee will meet in Bilbao on Wednesday May 21 before the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to finalise the qualification format.
Hampden Park in Glasgow is the lone Scottish stadium in the UK & Ireland portfolio for Euro 2028.
The other confirmed venues for the 24-team tournament are the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, St James’ Park in Newcastle, the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Everton’s new Bramley Moore Dock stadium in Liverpool, Villa Park in Birmingham, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley, which will host the final.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
