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Arsenal duo’s countries confirm Pot 1 status in Euro 2028 qualifying

The Netherlands and Greece were among three teams to mathematically confirm a place in Pot 1 for the Euro 2028 qualifiers over the weekend, in good news for Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber and Christos Tzolis.

Dimitris Kourbelis of Greece celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Christos Tzolis during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Germany and Greece at WWK Arena on September 27, 2026 in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images

One reward for positive performance in the 2026/27 Nations League is the chance to guarantee a spot in Pot 1 of the Euro 2028 qualifiers. Pot 1 teams then avoid each other during qualification, potentially giving your team a slightly easier route to the tournament.

At the time of writing, only three national teams have mathematically confirmed Pot 1 status, with Greece, the Netherlands, and Portugal all wrapping things up with their good results over the weekend. None of the three teams can finish any lower than third in their Nations League groups.

As a result, Arsenal duo Christos Tzolis and Jurrien Timber have increased their chances of playing at the 2028 tournament, despite neither featuring at the weekend. Tzolis had withdrawn due to injury, and Timber was rested.

Jurrien Timber of Netherlands controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Poland and Netherlands at PGE Narodowy on November 14, 2025 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Rafal Oleksiewicz/Getty Images)
Photo by Rafal Oleksiewicz/Getty Images

As it stands, lots of other Arsenal players are in line to confirm Pot 1 status either this week or next month.

Spain, France, England, Germany, Italy, and Norway are all currently expected to be in Pot 1, with Arsenal internationals potentially featuring in each of their teams. But none of their positions in Pot 1 are yet mathematically guaranteed.

Spain are in the best position, having won all of their games so far, and they’d need all six remaining fixtures (between all four teams in their group) to go against them to miss out on Pot 1.

Spain will probably wrap things up on Tuesday, either by drawing or winning against Croatia, or by England drawing or winning against Czechia.

OVIEDO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 03: Mikel Merino of Spain celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Czechia at Carlos Tartiere on October 03, 2026 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images

As for Viktor Gyokeres, Ceadach O’Neill, and James Scanlon, Sweden and Northern Ireland will either end up in Pot 2 or Pot 3, with current predictions putting them both in Pot 2. Gibraltar will be in Pot 5, as their fate was already sealed pre-break.

All three players could potentially face off against the Pot 1 Arsenal internationals in qualifying as a result.

SOLNA, SWEDEN - SEPTEMBER 28: Viktor Gyokeres of Sweden celebrates after scoring 3-1 during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Sweden and Poland at Strawberry Arena on September 28, 2026 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
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