UEFA Nations League State of Play: Promotions, Relegations, and High-Stakes Showdowns
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The UEFA Nations League group stages are nearing their dramatic conclusion, and what a ride it’s been. Packed with standout performances, nail-biting games, and edge-of-your-seat action, this competition has delivered in spades. But as we gear up for the next phase, things get a little tricky. The revamped Nations League format is so intricate, it feels like you’d need a master’s degree in football logistics to fully grasp it.
In its early years, the UEFA Nations League was all about chasing a spot in the finals and managing promotion or relegation across its four divisions. But UEFA has upped the ante for the 2024/25 edition, giving the tournament a serious shake-up. Now, there’s much more on the line. More teams will qualify for the knockout rounds, with added promotion and relegation play-offs keeping the stakes sky-high. To top it off, a nation’s performance in the Nations League will now directly influence their seeding for the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw.
As the Nations League group stage approaches its thrilling conclusion, it’s the perfect time to dive into the latest updates. Which teams have secured a spot in the knockout rounds? Who’s celebrating promotion, and who’s dealing with the sting of relegation? If you’ve fallen behind on the action, don’t worry—we’ve got all the updates you need to stay in the loop. Let’s break it down.
How Does the Revamped Nations League Work?
There are four divisions in the competition – League A, B, C (four groups with four Nations each) and League D (two groups with three nations each). League A is made up of the strongest teams, while League D houses the weakest teams of the UEFA confederation.
Qualifying for the Quarterfinals and the Finals
In League A, the top two teams from each group qualifies for the quarters, where they play in a two-legged tie for a place in the semifinals. The quarterfinal ties will be held in March 2025. The winners will play in a one-legged semifinal in June 2025 before the last two teams play in a final on 8th June.
Promotion and Relegation
Here’s how the promotion and relegation shake out in the Nations League: all four winners of League B and League C are automatically bumped up to League A and B, respectively. On the flip side, the teams finishing at the bottom of League A and B will drop straight down to League B and C.
But there’s a silver lining for teams relegated from League A this time around. Dropping to League B actually puts them in a stronger position to battle for a playoff spot in Euro 2028 qualifying. As for League D, the winners of the two groups are promoted, while the two teams in League C with the worst record will face relegation.
Playoffs
A new feature for this edition is the promotion/relegation playoffs, which will take place in March. Teams finishing third in League A will face off in two-legged ties against the second-placed nations from League B. Similarly, third place in League B will battle second place from League C. The winners of these matchups will earn promotion to the higher league.
For teams in League C, the two with the best record despite finishing bottom will also get a shot at redemption through a playoff against the runners-up from League D. If the League C nations manage to secure a win, they stay in League C. However, if they lose, they will be relegated to League D. It’s another layer of drama and excitement as teams fight to move up or avoid relegation.
What's Confirmed?
- Qualified for UNL Quarterfinals: Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Croatia, Italy, France.
- Relegation from League A to League B: Poland, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland.
- League A/B Playoffs: Belgium, Serbia, Hungary, Scotland (All League A). Austria and Greece (League B). – Two spots are still up for grabs, as League B Group 1 and Group 4 still haven’t finished.
- Promotion from League B to A: England, Norway. Two spots are still up for grabs, as League B Group 1 and Group 4 still haven’t finished.
- League B/C Playoffs: Republic of Ireland, Slovenia (B); Bulgaria, Slovakia, Armenia (C)
- Relegation from League B to League C: Finland, Kazakhstan, Montenegro
- Promotion from League C to League B: Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Sweden
- Possible relegation from League C to D: Azerbaijan, Luxembourg
- Relegation from League C to D: Lithuania
- League C/D playoffs: Latvia (C); Gibraltar, Malta (D)
- Promotion from League D to League C: Moldova, San Marino
As the final nine matches of the UEFA Nations League group stages wrap up tonight, fans will finally know which teams have secured promotion, who’s facing relegation, and which nations will be heading into the new playoff system.
Also Read: Croatia Qualify for the Quarterfinals After Playing Out a Thrilling 1–1 Draw vs Portugal
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