The UEFA Nations League, a pinnacle of European footballing prowess, commenced its fourth edition with the eagerly awaited league phase draw in Paris on Thursday, February 8, 2024. As the draw unfolded, football aficionados worldwide were treated to an array of compelling matchups and noteworthy changes set to invigorate the competition.
The initial qualification tournament for the 2026 finals is set to commence next year. Twelve group winners from this competition will secure direct qualification for the finals, while the 12 group runners-up will participate in play-offs.
Additionally, four play-off berths are designated for the four highest-ranked Nations League group winners that did not secure the first or second position in the regular qualifying rounds. The outcome of these play-offs in March 2026 will ultimately determine the last four European qualifiers for the 2026 finals.
Which sides will meet in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League?
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League features a dynamic mix of 54 UEFA member associations, meticulously divided into four leagues: A, B, C, and D. Each league boasts its distinct set of teams, promising riveting encounters and intense rivalries throughout the tournament.
In League A, football enthusiasts can anticipate captivating clashes among footballing giants, with standout groups including:
Group A1: Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Scotland
Group A2: Italy, Belgium, France, Israel
Group A3: Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group A4: Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia
League B introduces an enticing blend of competitive fixtures, with notable groups such as:
Group B1: Czechia, Ukraine, Albania, Georgia
Group B2: England, Finland, Republic of Ireland, Greece
Group B3: Austria, Norway, Slovenia, Kazakhstan
Group B4: Wales, Iceland, Montenegro, Türkiye
League C and League D feature equally engaging matchups, highlighting the depth and diversity of European football talent.
League C:
Group C1: Sweden, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Estonia
Group C2: Romania, Kosovo, Cyprus, Lithuania/Gibraltar*
Group C3: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Belarus
Group C4: Armenia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Latvia
League D:
Group D1: Lithuania/Gibraltar*, San Marino, Liechtenstein
Group D2: Moldova, Malta, Andorra
*To be determined following the 2022/23 play-outs in March 2024
How did the draw for the league phase of the Nations League 2024/25 work?
The draw for each league’s group phase meticulously considered the performances of participating teams in the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League, ensuring equitable and competitive matchups. Each team is slated to engage in six enthralling encounters, with home and away fixtures against fellow group contenders.
What changes have been made for the 2024/25 Nations League?
Significant modifications to the tournament structure promise heightened excitement and increased competitiveness. Notable changes include:
Introduction of a knockout round in March 2025, enhancing continuity between the group phase and finals.
Implementation of home-and-away quarter-finals for League A group winners and runners-up, culminating in the prestigious Final Four.
Automatic relegation of fourth-placed teams in Leagues A and B, while the lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams in League C face demotion to League D.
Automatic promotion of group winners in Leagues B, C, and D, fostering upward mobility and opportunity within the tournament framework.
Pathways to Glory: UEFA Nations League Finals:
The climax of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League beckons with the eagerly anticipated Finals. Set to transpire in June 2025, the semi-finals on June 4-5 will witness titanic battles among the tournament’s elite. The victors will advance to the grand finale on June 8, while the valiant semi-finalists will contest for third place earlier the same day.
As the UEFA Nations League embarks on its fourth installment, anticipation runs high, and expectations soar. With a blend of tradition and innovation, the tournament promises to captivate football enthusiasts worldwide, showcasing the best of European footballing talent and the unyielding spirit of competition.
The stage is set, the draw is complete, and the journey to UEFA Nations League glory awaits. Let the games begin!
UEFA Nations League schedule 2024/25:
The UEFA Nations League for the 2024/25 season promises an exciting lineup of matches, with fixtures scheduled across several matchdays:
Matchday 1: 5–7 September 2024
Matchday 2: 8–10 September 2024
Matchday 3: 10–12 October 2024
Matchday 4: 13–15 October 2024
Matchday 5: 14–16 November 2024
Matchday 6: 17–19 November 2024
Following the league phase, the tournament intensifies with the League A quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs:
First leg: 20–22 March 2025
Second leg: 23–25 March 2025
The climax of the tournament unfolds with the highly anticipated finals:
Semi-finals: 4–5 June 2025
Third-place play-off: 8 June 2025
Football enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling series of matches as nations vie for supremacy and coveted positions in the finals of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25.
Since its inception in 2018, the UEFA Nations League has garnered widespread acclaim as a successful event. Despite initial doubts, the event has progressively gained popularity over the past six years.
This is largely due to the fact that countries struggling to qualify for the main international championships often opt for the playoff route. To complete the lineup for this summer’s Euro 2024 in Germany, 12 countries will face off next month.
The Nations League is steadfast in its mission to enhance the international schedule. In the absence of World Cups or European Championships, there are fewer meaningless friendlies to fill the void.
Which opponents will UK countries encounter in this Nations League?
Paris hosted Thursday’s UEFA Nations League draw, which determined the league stage of the competition’s fourth edition in 2024-25. England, one of the main contenders, will face the Republic of Ireland as a result of the draw.
The Three Lions find themselves in League B following their relegation from the Nations League’s top tier. Their winless 2022 campaign, where they finished last in their group behind Italy, Hungary, and Germany, is to blame.
Greece, Ireland, and Finland comprise Group B2, where Gareth Southgate’s team will compete. Spread across the three international breaks later this year – in September, October, and November – six matches will take place.
Initially, Kazakhstan was part of the group draw but was later removed due to travel restrictions. Greece was subsequently added to complete the group of four.
England will secure promotion with a first-place finish in their group. A second-place finish would necessitate a playoff against a third-placed team from League A. A third-place finish in Group B2 would lead to participation in a relegation playoff, while finishing last would result in demotion to League C.
Scotland will compete in League A against Poland, Croatia, and Portugal, while Wales’ League B fixtures include Montenegro, Iceland, and Turkey. To ascend from League C, Northern Ireland must defeat Bulgaria, Belarus, and Luxembourg.
Who will France, Spain, and Italy face?
Group A4 features Serbia, Denmark, and reigning Nations League champions Spain, who claimed victory in 2023. Italy, now champions of the European Championship, face a formidable challenge in what’s been dubbed the “group of death.”
In the Nations League, running from September 5 to November 19, they will face France, Belgium, and Israel. The tournament winners will progress to the quarterfinals in March 2025.
The Azzurri will face Israel, Belgium, and the 2021 tournament champions, France, both at home and away.
The group stage concludes in mid-November, with the first round of matches scheduled for September 5-7. The introduction of a new knockout round sees the top two teams from each League A group advancing to a two-legged quarterfinal, determining the finalists.
Promotion and relegation dynamics remain unchanged, with the weakest teams in Leagues A and B facing demotion, and the top teams in Leagues B, C, and D earning automatic promotion. Additionally, League C’s two lowest-ranked teams will move to Division D.
