October 13 – UEFA is exploring major changes to its World Cup qualifying format, with senior officials acknowledging concerns that the current system has become predictable and is losing appeal among fans and broadcasters.

According to the latest reports in UK media, a working group under UEFA’s National Teams Committee is reviewing alternative qualification structures. The move comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America expands to 48 teams — a shift that further complicates an already crowded international calendar and bloated qualification process.

The issue being addressed is that it has become too easy to qualify for the World Cup and hence boring for fans. UEFA wants to find a way to inject some interest into the national team qualifiers, or at least streamline them within the calendar.

Among the ideas being discussed are using the UEFA Nations League as part of the qualification pathway or adopting a ‘Swiss model’ similar to the one recently introduced in the Champions League. Both options are designed to increase competitiveness and reduce the number of low-stakes fixtures that have drawn justified criticism from supporters and media alike.

An undisclosed source familiar with the discussions told The Times that European general secretaries were briefed on the initiative during a recent meeting in Málaga. “Broadcast revenues and fan engagement around the international qualifiers have been going down, but they’ve been going up in the Nations League,” the source said.

“It’s been looked at before, but finding the right balance — one that keeps jeopardy for the big nations and opportunity for smaller teams — is extremely difficult.”

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin also confirmed at the Portugal Football Summit that a new format is under active consideration. “Perhaps the qualifiers could be different,” he said. “There won’t be any more matches, but a more interesting format. We’re thinking about this right now.”

With a double blow of declining viewing figures for traditional qualifiers and the wider concern of a bloated football calendar, the governing body faces pressure to modernise a format many now see as outdated. Pair that with the success of the its Nations League and the answer seems to be forming for UEFA.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1760366043labto1760366043ofdlr1760366043owedi1760366043sni@g1760366043niwe.1760366043yrrah1760366043