The UEFA Nations League is a competition between UEFA’s 55 member countries that was established because “UEFA and its associations desired more competitive standards in national team football, with associations, coaches, players, and supporters increasingly believing that friendly matches do not procure satisfactory competition for national teams.”
So there will be no more international friendly matches?
Almost, especially now that the UEFA Nations League has been forced to fill all remaining international dates in 2022 prior to the World Cup finals.
In 2023, qualifying for Euro 2024 will take up the dates, meaning only countries in groups of five teams, who have two spare matchdays, will play friendlies.
Qualifying for Euro 2024 will take up the dates in 2023, so only countries in groups of five teams with two spare matchdays will be able to play friendlies.
What is the format for this competition?
The 55 countries have been divided into four “Leagues.” League A has the strongest nations, while League D contains the weakest.
Leagues A, B and C: Four groups of four nations (16 teams each)
League D: One group of four and one group of three (7)
Leagues A, B, and C are made up of four groups of countries each (16 teams each)
While League D is a four-team group and a three-team group (7).
Each group’s teams will play each other at home and away.
What are the groups of the UEFA Nations League?
- GROUP A
Group A1: France, Denmark, Croatia, Austria
Group A2: Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Czech Republic
Group A3: Italy, Germany, England, Hungary
Group A4: Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Wales
- League B
Group B1: Ukraine, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group B2: Iceland, Russia*, Israel, Albania
Group B3: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Romania, Montenegro
Group B4: Sweden, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia
- League C
Group C1: Turkey, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Faroe Islands
Group C2: Northern Ireland, Greece, Kosovo, Cyprus
Group C3: Slovakia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan
Group C4: Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Georgia, Gibraltar
- League D
Group D1: Liechtenstein, Moldova, Andorra, Latvia
Group D2: Malta, Estonia, San Marino
Are Russian national team playing in the UEFA Nations League?
As a result of the sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia will not be allowed to play in Group B2 and will be relegated to League B, where it will be ranked 16th.
The UEFA Nations League is valued at how much?
The following is the League’s guaranteed solidarity funding for each country:
League A: €2.25m
League B: €1.5m
League C: €1.125m
League D: €750,000
The winners of the league receive a twofold payment. The League A finalists compete for a prize fund as well, with Portugal winning €10.5 million (the inaugural winners) in 2019, the Netherlands €9 million, England €8 million, and Switzerland €7 million.
Who are the current holders of the UEFA Nations League?
France defeated Spain 2-1 in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League final in Milan, Italy, with to goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe. Spain had taken the lead thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal opener.
Is there a system of promotion and relegation?
Yes. For the next season of the Nations League, the winners of each group in Leagues B, C, and D advance, while the bottom-placed nations in Leagues A and B drop down. League C’s bottom. Four teams will compete in a playoff to decide which two countries would be relegated to League D.
What will the format of the 2023 Nations League Finals be and how will it work?
The four League A group winners will compete, with one of them serving as host. The semi-finals will be held on June 14 and 15, 2023, with the final and third-place play-off taking place on June 18, 2023.
What are the dates for the Nations League in 2022/23?
- Matchdays 1 and 2 are scheduled for June 1–8, 2022.
- Matchdays 3 and 4 are scheduled for June 9–14, 2022.
- Matchdays 5 and 6 are scheduled for September 22–27, 2022.
- The draw for the finals will be announced at a later date.
- Semi-finals will be held on June 14 and 15, 2023.
- The final and third-place match will be held on June 18, 2023.
- Play-offs will be held on March 21–23 and 24–26, 2024.
Tournament information for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League
| Dates | The first stage: 1 June – 27 September 2022 Nations League Finals: 14–18 June 2023 Relegation play-outs: 21–26 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Teams | 55 |
Stats from the tournament
| Matches played | 16 |
|---|---|
| Goals scored | 50 (3.13 per match) |
| Attendance | 508,834 (31,802 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Six players (2 goals each) |