Uefa is overhauling World Cup 2030 qualifying with a two-tier system that bars top-ranked nations from facing minnows like San Marino, Gibraltar, and Andorra. Under the new format, all 12-team groups will play six home-or-away matches against six different opponents drawn from two pots per group, replacing the old home-and-away round-robin structure.

The remaining 18 lower-ranked countries — those beyond League C winners and all seven League D nations — drop into League 2, where they still have a route to qualification through play-offs. From 2028, the Nations League reshapes into three divisions of 18 teams each, with six-team groups and the same six-match schedule.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says the format improves competitive balance and cuts dead matches without adding international dates. The split effectively shields elite sides from facing the weakest nations while preserving promotion and relegation mechanics, though UEFA hasn't revealed the breakdown of automatic slots.