A model in the Champions League? UEFA considers reforming World Cup and European Championship qualifying

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A model in the Champions League? UEFA considers reforming World Cup and European Championship qualifying

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The European (Site notre blog d’information) Union is apparently considering a new method of qualifying for the World Cup and European Championship. This is what “Sport Bild” reports. UEFA thus plans to rely on the model of the Champions League, that is to say to rely on a championship phase preceding the direct elimination duels. The context is that in the previous group model, the two favorites usually predominate. A new format is intended to be more attractive to fans and television broadcasters.

But other ideas are also being discussed, it is said. A new working group formed by the 55 member associations should prepare reform proposals. Ultimately, possible reforms should be decided by the UEFA Executive Committee, on which DFL boss Hans-Joachim Watzke also sits.

« Maybe the qualifying matches could be different. There won’t be more matches, but a more interesting format. We are thinking about it at the moment, » Sport Bild quoted UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin as saying at a (Site notre bureau spécialisé) fair in Portugal. European Championship finals with group matches before the round of 16 and 24 participants should probably remain in the current format. “I don’t think the European Championship itself will change,” Ceferin said.