All matches in the qualifying group stage are played according to the league system, with each team playing one home match and one away match against each of the other teams in its group. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat.
On completion of the qualifying group stage, final group standings are compiled based on the number of points obtained by each team in the group.
The 12 group winners and the 8 highest-ranking runners-up based on the overall European Qualifiers rankings (see Article 23) qualify directly for the final tournament. The remaining four runners-up enter the play-offs (see Article 16).
Two places in the final tournament are reserved for host association teams that do not qualify directly via the qualifying group stage, including any that qualified for the play-offs. If more than two host association teams do not qualify directly, the two places are allocated to the two highest-ranking of those host association teams, based on the overall European Qualifiers rankings (see Article 23). If none or only one host association team makes use of such places, the remaining place(s) will be allocated via the play-offs.