EURO 2028 Qualifiers Kick Off: Early Predictions and Surprises | OneFootball

The long path to the UEFA EURO 2028 has officially begun. One of the most anticipated football tournaments globally will be held in England, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Matches will start on 9th July 2028, but sports fans are already preparing for the loud event. Iconic stadiums, including Wembley and Hampden Park, are the main venues for the competition, so football lovers can’t wait to see the contest. While it’s still a long time before EURO 2028, early predictions are made, and some of them will surprise you.

Qualifying Stage: Format, Timeline, Participants

The campaign is officially scheduled for 27th March 2027, so mark this day on your schedule. It will last for almost the entire year and end in November. In this edition, UEFA decided to warm up the interest and increase teams’ competitiveness. Twenty-four participants representing their country in the global arena will be divided into groups.

Twelve group members who win the first contest will qualify for the major championship, and leading online casinos not on GamStop accept early predictions on this stage in 2025. The playoffs are also long-awaited, as the spots will be influenced by teams’ performances throughout 2026 and 2027.

Four countries where EURO 2028 takes place will qualify through the standard process, which is a significant difference compared to the previous tournaments. However, UEFA reserves two places for the highest-ranked hosting nations to guarantee that the procedure is fair. Eliminating automatic entries can change the entire perception of the EURO Championship, but this move aims to create equal conditions for all participants. Other aspects of the tournament remain pretty much the same.

Early Favourites: Nations Projected to Show Stronger Performance in EURO 2028 Qualifiers Kick Off

Each major tournament includes early predictions on which country has a better chance of passing the qualifying stage and reaching the following level. Experts assess the landscape using analytics, statistics, and recent athletes’ performances. Undeniably, everything can change in the next two years, but football lovers already have their favourites.

France

The state boasts experienced football veterans and younger talents who bring a fresh breath to the team’s strategy. The French national football squad is among those dominating in Europe for 2025. Kylian Mbappé is the brightest star: as captain since 2023, he has led his teammates to multiple wins. France is projected to demonstrate exceptional consistency and persistence in the qualifying stage, and many are confident it will remain among the leaders during the entire EURO 2028 contest.

England

It’s one of the host nations, and it would have previously had the chance to skip the qualifying round and enter the following stage automatically. In the following edition, the situation will be different, and the country will have to participate under general conditions. However, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for England, which boasts one of the most prominent teams in Europe. A blend of leading players like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden makes the team not just contenders but rather potential champions — a fact reflected in the growing interest in betting at independent bookmakers, who often offer competitive odds and unique market insights on England’s performance.

Germany

Germans have always been strong in football, and the latest rebuild, including the acquisition of emerging talents like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, is projected to drive the squad to impressive results. The current management maintains the national team’s consistent performance, and according to early bookmakers’ predictions, Germany has a good chance of advancing to the next stage with multiple wins.

Spain

A list of potential favourites cannot be complete without Spain, which has maintained leadership in football for many years. Its tactical evolution has been evident in recent years. Sports experts are confident that participation in the qualifying round is just a waste of time for the star team: they will easily pass it and beat competitors playing in their usual style.

Host Nations Heating the Competition

The updates in the qualifying stage don’t seem to affect England, as they are projected to pass comfortably. It’s not the case for Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, whose successes in football are more modest. Wales will possibly rely on new players that it will acquire in 2026, as many of the team’s veterans are about to retire. Next-generation athletes can become the driving force of the squad’s performance, which comes with additional difficulties for management.

Scotland has shown better performance in recent years, but it still doesn’t have the same level as England or Spain. Two fallback spots reserved for hosting nations give the squad the opportunity to enter the following stage. Still, the updated rules create new challenges for the hosting countries, adding drama and competitiveness to the EURO 2028 Qualifiers.

Final Insight

The anticipation of one of the major European tournaments, EURO 2028, makes fans and experts build predictions on how everything will go. There’s a lot of time before the qualifying round, but early projections are already available. France, Spain, and Germany will likely remain leaders, with England hosting the tournament and being a strong contender. Other nations, including Scotland and Wales, are less promising; still, everything can change by 2027.