“THEY’RE HOSTING THE TOURNAMENT… BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO QUALIFY.” 😳⚽ — ENGLAND FANS ARE FUMING OVER A EURO 2028 RULE THAT HAS SPARKED MAJOR CONTROVERSY Despite co-hosting Euro 2028, England will still have to earn their place through the qualifying campaign under UEFA’s new format—a decision that has left many supporters stunned. The frustration has only grown after Argentina were granted automatic qualification for the 2030 World Cup despite hosting just one match as part of the tournament. The contrasting treatment has ignited fierce debate among football fans, with many questioning why the rules appear so different for two of the sport’s biggest competitions. But one little-known clause in UEFA’s qualification system could still end up changing England’s fate.

ENGLAND have to qualify for Euro 2028 despite being co-hosts – unlike Argentina at the next World Cup.

With millions of fans signing a petition to have the 2022 Qatar winners BANNED from future tournaments, they are furious to know a place in four years is already guaranteed.

And that comes with Lionel Scaloni’s side only hosting ONE game.

Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the 2030 World Cup hosts and have been given automatic berths.

But more controversially, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay have all been given places by virtue of hosting only their countries’ opening matches in the centenary edition.

England, however – who will welcome countries from across Europe for the 24 team Euros – are not in the hat for their own tournament just yet.

Games will be played across Wembley, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad, Everton‘s Hill Dickinson, St James’ Park, and Villa Park.

International tournament hosts are usually granted immediate entry into tournaments, like USA, Canada, and Mexico were for this summer‘s World Cup.

But new Uefa qualifying rules mean England will go into one of 12 groups of four or five sides along with all 50 other nations for Euro 2028, and won’t get the same degree of special treatment.

They will be kept apart from Scotland, Wales, and Republic of Ireland, who will also be hosting matches.

And all group winners go through automatically, as well as eight of the best runners up.

That is still only 20 of the 24 spots taken up, though, with two reserved for hosts in case they DO NOT qualify via the groups.

This means that if any two of the other hosts DO get through, England will be guaranteed a place no matter what they do as they will have a reserved space to themselves.

Although failing to get in via finishing top or second would raise serious questions.

And if three or four of hosts fail to qualify through the groups then only the top two highest ranked ones would get the designated host space.

England, again, are among the best in the world so will have a spot almost certainly theirs.

But at a time where Argentina are drawing mass criticism for behaviour on and off the field, their first-class ticket to Spain, Portugal and Morocco has frustrated footie watchers.

SOURCE: THESUN