Soccer-Euro 2028 co-hosts must qualify but with safety net

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Euro 2028 & Euro 2032 Hosts Announcement - Nyon, Switzerland - October 10, 2023 The UEFA Euro trophy is pictured during the announcement REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

(Reuters) -Co-hosts England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will not automatically be in the 2028 European Championship finals and must go through qualifying, though two spots are reserved if they fail.

The decision was taken by European governing body UEFA's executive committee on Wednesday in Bilbao ahead of the Europa League Final.