The format of the final tournament will consist of six groups of four teams, followed by a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The top two from each group would qualify in addition to the four best third-ranked sides, the same system as was applied in the World Cups from 1986 to 1994. This format would generate a total of 51 games, compared with 31 now, to be played over a period of 29-31 days. UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino said that the new format was "not ideal" and that UEFA was not sure of the detail of the format

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With the expansion to 24 teams, middle-ranked countries have a much greater chance of qualifying for the finals than earlier. The traditional qualifying structure, with groups of six and five teams, is likely to remain in place.

This would involve nine groups being formed in the qualifying draw comprising seven groups of six sides and two of five, as 52 teams chase 23 finals places to join hosts France. The seeding pots would be formed on the basis of the UEFA national team coefficients, finalised after the completion of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, with the UEFA Euro 2012 champions automatically top seeded. All groups would contain one nation from the first five pots and seven sections would also include a team from Pot 6. At the conclusion of qualifying, the following 23 teams would qualify:
9 Group Leaders.
9 Group Runners-up.
1 Highest ranked third-placed team.
4 Winners of the play-offs contested between the remaining (8) third-placed teams.

UEFA has confirmed that this format is under review