England will return to competitive action for the first time since the World Cup during the September and October international break, with four matches scheduled as part of the Nations League group stage. These games will serve as a crucial preparation phase for the upcoming Euro 2028 qualification campaign, which will begin in March 2027. The Nations League, a competition involving national teams from across Europe, is designed to provide more meaningful matches than traditional friendly games and will help teams gauge their readiness for major tournaments. Despite the fact that the Euro 2028 tournament will be held across England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, none of these nations will automatically qualify simply because they are hosts. UEFA, the governing body of European football, has decided that all teams, including the host nations, must participate in the qualification process. This ensures a fair and competitive pathway for all teams to reach the tournament. The qualification process for Euro 2028 will involve 12 groups of either four or five teams each. The top team from each group, along with the best eight runners-up, will qualify directly. Additionally, UEFA has reserved two spots specifically for the host nations. This means that if up to two of the four host countries fail to qualify from their groups, they will still be granted automatic entry. However, if more than two of the hosts fail to qualify, the two reserved spots will be given to the two highest-ranked teams in the qualification process. The qualification campaign will conclude with a play-off stage in March 2028, where teams will compete in single-legged matches to secure the remaining spots. The number of play-off places will vary depending on how many host nations qualify through their groups. If all four hosts qualify automatically, four play-off spots will be available. But if one host needs a reserved spot, only three play-off places will be up for grabs. The venues for Euro 2028 have already been announced, including iconic stadiums such as Wembley in London, Old Trafford in Manchester, and Hampden Park in Glasgow, among others. The qualification draw for the tournament will be held on December 6 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, marking the last time a traditional group format will be used before a new Champions League-style league system is introduced for future tournaments.