All you want to know

The draw for the qualifying section of Euro 2024 takes place on Sunday, Oct. 9. Here is all the things you want to know forward of the occasion.

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When does the draw happen?

The draw will probably be held on the Markthalle in Frankfurt, Germany on Oct. 9 at 11 a.m. BST / 6 a.m. ET.

The technical a part of the draw is predicted to take 40 minutes to finish.

How are the draw pots determined?

The groups are divided into seven pots based mostly upon the ultimate positions within the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League (UNL) group stage.

The 4 top-ranked international locations are the UNL Pot, with the subsequent six in Pot 1. The UNL Pot exists as a result of these international locations should be drawn into a gaggle of 5 international locations to have the June worldwide dates free for the UEFA Nations League finals; they are going to be drawn into Teams A-D.

The opposite pots all have 10 groups, aside from Pot 6 which incorporates the three lowest-ranked international locations.

What are the draw pots?

UNL POT
Netherlands
Croatia
Spain
Italy

POT 1
Denmark
Portugal
Belgium
Hungary
Switzerland
Poland

POT 2
France
Austria
Czech Republic
England
Wales
Israel
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
Scotland
Finland

POT 3
Ukraine
Iceland
Norway
Slovenia
Republic of Eire
Albania
Montenegro
Romania
Sweden
Armenia

POT 4
Georgia
Greece
Turkey
Kazakhstan
Luxembourg
Azerbaijan
Kosovo
Bulgaria
Faroe Islands
North Macedonia

POT 5
Slovakia
Northern Eire
Cyprus
Belarus
Lithuania
Gibraltar
Estonia
Latvia
Moldova
Malta

POT 6
Andorra
Liechtenstein
San Marino

The place are Germany and Russia?

Germany should not have to qualify as they’re the host nation.

Russia are nonetheless banned from worldwide competitors by UEFA because of the invasion of Ukraine.

How will the draw work?

There will probably be one nation from every pot (although contemplate the UNL Pot and Pot 1 to be certainly one of 10 groups.)

So, you may have a gaggle containing Spain, England, Republic of Eire, Azerbaijan and Malta.

– The draw begins with the UNL Pot, drawing the 4 international locations in Teams A-D. Pot 1 groups are then assigned into Teams E to J.

– The draw then continues from Pot 2 to Pot 6. Every pot is emptied completely earlier than continuing to the subsequent pot.

– Groups drawn are allotted in alphabetical order from Group A to Group J except there’s a restriction on the draw.

– The three Pot 6 groups will probably be allotted to Teams H, I and J to create teams of six.

What are the restrictions on the draw?

Aside from the UEFA Nations League finalists needing to be in Teams A by to D, there are:

– Winter venue restriction: Solely two of Belarus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway may be in the identical group.

– Prohibited group clashes: Armenia / Azerbaijan – Belarus / Ukraine – Gibraltar / Spain – Kosovo / Bosnia-Herzegovina – Kosovo / Serbia

– Extreme journey restrictions: Kazakhstan, Iceland and Azerbaijan have a sequence of particular draw circumstances to forestall greater than two groups being in a single group.

What number of international locations will qualify for Euro 2024?

There will probably be 24 groups at Euro 2024.

Hosts Germany will probably be joined by the winners and the runners-up from every of the ten teams.

The ultimate three locations will probably be determined by playoffs.

How will the Euro 2024 playoffs work?

The playoffs will probably be created utilizing the ultimate positions within the UEFA Nations League group stage.

There’ll three playoff paths, one every for UEFA Nations Leagues A, B and C.

The group winners are assured a playoff, ought to they not qualify robotically. They’re:

League A
Netherlands
Croatia
Spain
Italy

League B
Israel
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
Scotland

League C
Georgia
Greece
Turkey
Kazakhstan

If one of many group winners qualifies robotically, the best-ranked group which requires a playoff in that league path will take the place.

If a league path can’t be crammed (as an example if 13 international locations qualify from League A robotically), then Estonia (finest ranked in League D) will slot into that path. If multiple place must be crammed, after Estonia it reverts to total rank within the subsequent league.

When will the video games be performed?

The group stage will happen within the 5 worldwide home windows of March, June, September, October and November 2023. The playoffs will probably be held in March 2024 forward of the finals between Friday, June 14 and Sunday, July 14, 2024.

Will there nonetheless be worldwide friendlies?

The 31 international locations within the five-team Teams A to G who are usually not within the UEFA Nations League finals can have two free dates for friendlies in 2023.