Minnows Luxembourg may no longer face off against such prestigious opponents such as Portugal, Germany or France under potential European international football reforms.

UEFA, the governing body of European football, intends to review the qualifying formats that send teams to European Championships and World Cups.

At the "Football Summit" in Lisbon on 9 October, UEFA president Alexandre Ceferin said "the qualifiers could be different. Not more matches, but a more interesting format. We are considering the matter at present."

It is not the first time the organisers have considered a redesign of the current format. The Nations League was founded in 2018, and has persisted despite criticism from bigger countries, winning the hearts of more modest teams as it allows for better progression.

But ultimately, the chance to qualify for a major competition was a bonus. Smaller teams could expect to face off against at least one major opponent, often travelling to an internationally famous stadium, or drawing high attendance numbers due to the prestige involved.

Over the years, the cream of continental football has flocked to the Grand Duchy, including players such as Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Ousmane Dembélé, and Antoine Griezmann.

But could this era be coming to an end? A working group headed up by FFF president Philippe Diallo is considering all options following Ceferin's comments.

Following the Champions League?

To render the format more glamorous, UEFA is considering a Champions League model, with divisions between large, medium, and small nations. For Luxembourg, this would mean settling for opponents of their own level, while the big teams would face each other, to the delight of broadcasters and sponsors.

The other clear path is a format recently used by the women's Nations League. This competition offers direct access to the two major tournaments.

It is unlikely there will be changes until the current cycle ends in 2028. However, with many grey areas yet to be clarified, the Competitions Committee will be able to propose amendments

In the meantime, Luxembourg has a World Cup qualifying campaign to complete for the 2026 edition in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Then, a Nations League doubleheader against Malta next March, in order to save its place in League C of the Nations League.

The Red Lions will participate in the Nations League in September and October 2026, albeit with a slight change in format since there will no longer be three blocks of two matches but two blocks of three.

Then it will be time to focus on qualifying for the 2028 European Championship in England and Ireland. This may be the last opportunity for Luxembourg to face a major nation in the qualifiers before the planned reform.