Bulgaria assigned to fourth pot for EURO 2028 qualifying draw

Bulgaria will be placed in the fourth pot for the EURO 2028 qualifying draw scheduled for December 6, 2026. This seeding follows a 5-0 loss to Iceland at Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv during the Nations League. The tournament itself will be hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland from June 9 to July 9, 2028.

Pot seeding and tournament structure

The seeding for the EURO 2028 qualifying draw utilizes Nations League standings to determine pot placement. This method replaces the previous system which relied on a general ranking of teams. The tournament structure for the draw involves five distinct pots based on performance in the Nations League.

The first pot will consist of the top three teams from League A. The second pot will include the fourth-placed teams from League A and the first and second-placed teams from each League B group. The third pot will include the third and fourth-placed teams from League B and the winners of the League C groups. The fourth pot will consist of the remaining teams from League C. The fifth pot will include all teams from League D.

Simulation results and team placements

A Football Meets Data simulation has provided projected placements for several teams following the results on November 14, 2026. The simulation confirmed Germany for Pot 1, Serbia for Pot 2, and Slovakia for Pot 3. The simulation also confirmed that Faroe Islands, Bulgaria, and Luxembourg will be in Pot 4. Additionally, the simulation placed Belgium, Turkey, Montenegro, Finland, and Cyprus in their respective positions.

The simulation analyzed a total of 54 teams. Regarding specific mathematical probabilities, Albania has a 65.6% chance of being in the third pot and a 34.4% chance of being in the fourth pot. In a related match, Belgium defeated Turkey with a score of 2-1.

National team context

Atanas Ribarski serves as the coach of the Bulgarian national team. The recent performance in the Nations League, specifically the 5-0 defeat to Iceland, has directly influenced the current seeding for the upcoming qualifying draw. The tournament being hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland represents a significant milestone for European football, with the event spanning from June 9 to July 9, 2028.

Glossary

• EURO 2028 — A football tournament that will be hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland from June 9 to July 9, 2028.
• Nations League — A competition used to determine pot placement for the EURO 2028 qualifying draw. Its standings are utilized for seeding in the tournament structure.