[1] Unlike previous editions, the participants of the play-offs were not decided based on results from the qualifying group stage.
Instead, 16 teams that failed to qualify through their group were selected based on their performance in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.
The four play-off path winners joined the twenty teams that had already qualified for UEFA Euro 2020.
[2][3][4] The matches were originally scheduled for March 2020, but were postponed to 8 October and 12 November 2020 by UEFA due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.
The host of the final was decided during the 22 November 2019 draw, chosen between the winners of the semi-final pairings.
[1] The UEFA Executive Committee approved the use of the video assistant referee system for the qualifying play-offs during their meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on 4 December 2019.
However, the return of spectators was subject to the decision of local authorities, with regional limits (including requirements for matches to be played behind closed doors) taking precedence over UEFA's maximum allowed capacity.
Social distancing was mandatory for spectators, and additional preventive measures (such as face masks) were implemented per local regulations.
Key The qualifying play-off draw took place on 22 November 2019, 12:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
[18] Due to the specificity of the draw, the procedure could only be finalised following the conclusion of the qualifying group stage.
[26] The changes to the International Match Calendar for October and November 2020 were approved by the FIFA Council on 25 June 2020.
3 goals2 goals1 goal1 own goalA player would have been automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:[1] Yellow cards and pending yellow card suspensions expired on completion of the qualifying group stage, and were not carried forward to the play-offs, finals or any other future international matches.