The nine group winners and the best runners-up qualify directly for the final tournament. The eight remaining runners-up contest play-off matches. The four ties are determined by means of a draw which will take place at UEFA headquarters in mid-October 2011.

After the play-offs are completed, the 14 teams who will join the co-hosts in the final tournament will be known. The draw for the finals, in which the 16 teams will be drawn into four groups of four, will take place in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in December 2011. UEFA EURO 2012 will be played from 8 June to 1 July 2012.