Article 16 Path formation – play-offs - EURO

16.01

The number of teams in the play-offs, either 8 or 12, depends on the host association teams’ results in the qualifying group stage and therefore how many of the places reserved for host associations in the final tournament are used (see Paragraph 14.04).

1. If both reserved places are used, 8 teams enter the play-offs to fill two places in the final tournament. Two paths of four teams each are formed:

   Play-off Path A	Play-off semi-final 1	Play-off final A
   	Play-off semi-final 2
   Play-off Path B	Play-off semi-final 3	Play-off final B
   	Play-off semi-final 4

2. If only one of the reserved places is used, 12 teams enter the play-offs to fill three places in the final tournament. Three paths of four teams each are formed:

   Play-off Path A	Play-off semi-final 1	Play-off final A
   	Play-off semi-final 2
   Play-off Path B	Play-off semi-final 3	Play-off final B
   	Play-off semi-final 4
   Play-off Path C	Play-off semi-final 5	Play-off final C
   	Play-off semi-final 6

3. If none of the reserved places are used, 8 teams enter the play-offs to fill four places in the final tournament. Four play-off ties are formed:

   Play-off tie A	Seeded team 1 vs Unseeded team 1
   Play-off tie B	Seeded team 2 vs Unseeded team 2
   Play-off tie C	Seeded team 3 vs Unseeded team 3
   Play-off tie D	Seeded team 4 vs Unseeded team 4

16.02

Depending on the number of places available, places in the play-offs are allocated as follows:

1. Between two and four play-off places are reserved for the lowest-ranked runners-up of the qualifying group stage (see Article 23).

2. The four to nine remaining places are allocated to group winners from Leagues A, B and C of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League that have not already qualified for the final tournament or the play-offs from the qualifying group stage, based on the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings (see the Regulations of the UEFA Nations League).

3. If fewer than the required number of group winners of Leagues A, B and C are available to enter the play-offs, the next place is allocated to the League D group winner ranked highest in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings, unless the team in question has already qualified for the final tournament or the play-offs.

4. Any remaining play-off places are allocated to the highest-ranking teams in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings that have not already qualified for the final tournament or the play-offs.

16.03

The UEFA administration conducts a draw to allocate the participating teams to the play-off paths or, if home and away ties are formed, the play-off ties. If two host association teams enter the play-offs, they are allocated to separate paths or ties. If qualified for the play-offs and if possible, Northern Ireland will be allocated to a path or tie that does not include a host association team. Additional principles and conditions may apply, subject to approval by the UEFA Executive Committee.

16.04

If two or three play-off paths are formed (see Paragraph 16.01a and b), the teams are divided into four equal sized pots for the draw as follows:

1. The 8 or 12 teams entering the play-offs are ranked in the following order:

   1. Runners-up of the qualifying group stage, according to their positions in the overall European Qualifiers rankings (see Article 23);

   2. Teams that qualified via the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, according to their positions in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings.

2. The 8 or 12 teams, ranked 1st to 8th or 1st to 12th respectively, are divided into four pots as follows:

   1. Pot 1: top seeds ranked 1st and 2nd or 1st to 3rd;

   2. Pot 2: seeded teams ranked 3rd and 4th or 4th to 6th;

   3. Pot 3: unseeded teams ranked 5th and 6th or 7th to 9th;

   4. Pot 4: unseeded teams ranked 7th and 8th or 10th to 12th.

Each play-off path is composed of two semi-final pairings of one seeded team and one unseeded team: pot 1 vs pot 4 and pot 2 vs pot 3.

16.05

If four play-off ties are formed (see Paragraph 16.01c), two equal sized pots are formed for the draw. Pot 1 contains the four seeded teams and pot 2 the four unseeded teams, according to the following principles:

1. The runners-up of the qualifying group stage are allocated to pot 1.

2. The remaining places in pot 1, if any, are allocated to the highest-ranking of the teams that qualified via the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, according to their positions in the interim overall 2026/27 UEFA Nations League rankings.

3. The remaining teams are allocated to pot 2.

Each seeded team is drawn against an unseeded team.