Ian JohnThis past fortnight has seen the final set of UEFA Nations League 2024/25 group stage games completed. All the different group fixtures have now been completed and we know the outcome of each group.
However, there are some major changes for the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 that means that this tournament is far, far from over!
With that in mind, we are going to recap the changes for the current Nations League 2024/25 tournament, and then explore what that means for each of the teams in each of the groups in each of the four different leagues!
Bet365 Sport will continue to offer a wide selection of betting markets on the tournament both before and also once it resumes in 2025!
So before we outline the major changes to the tournament for 2024/25 onwards, let’s first explore how and why these changes were put into place.
The UEFA Nations League – A Potted History
The Nations League was designed to fit in around World Cup and European Championship qualifying competitions and in doing so, did away with the meaningless international friendly games that proliferated in the calendar.
The initial Nations League saw four leagues, with a small 12-team top League A and then three other leagues, League B, C and D. League A saw four groups of three teams, with the other groups having four groups of four (apart from League D which had three groups of four). .
While the tournament was a success, it still meant that a number of top European teams still had a number of friendly games, rather than competitive matches. So UEFA changed the format for the next tournament, expanding League A to 16 to join League’s B and C, while League D featured just six teams in two groups.
This cut down on the number of friendly matches for the top teams and made the tournament more competitive and was widely regarded as another big success.
However, when it came to the Finals phase, many teams would have to play friendlies on these dates. So another key change was instigated for the Nations League 2024/25.
Key Changes for 2024/25
The League Structure remains the same for the league phase; 16 teams in Leagues A, B and C (in four groups of four) and 6 teams in League D (in two groups of three).
The key changes have been made for the knockout phases of the tournament, which now has a Quarter Final stage and a Finals tournament, as well as Nations League 2024/25 Playoffs to decide the final promotion/relegation spots.
Here’s how it works:
Nations League 2024/25 Quarter Finals – March 2025
The top two teams in each of the four groups in League A qualify for the Nations League quarterfinals, a two-legged fixture that will be played in March 2025. The winner of one group will face the runner up of another group.
The winners of these fixtures progress to the Nations League Finals in June.
Nations League 2024/25 Finals – June 2025
The four quarter final winners are drawn into two semi-finals, the winners of which then contest the Nations League Final. The host country for the Finals will be picked from one the four teams that qualify for the semi-finals.
Nations League 2024/25 Promotion & Relegation – March 2025
The teams that top their groups in Leagues B, C and D are automatically promoted to Leagues A, B and C respectively for the next Nations League tournament.
The teams that finish bottom of their groups in Leagues A and B are automatically relegated to Leagues B, and C for the next Nations League tournament.
The two worst teams of the bottom four teams in League C are relegated to League D. The other two teams that finish bottom of their group in League C are entered into the Promotion/Relegation Playoff.
The four third placed teams in each group in League C remain in League C for the next tournament.
Nations League Promotion & Relegation Playoff (March 2025/2026)
In a bid to further reduce friendly games, a new Nations League promotion and relegation playoff will be played.
These are a series of two-legged games between teams to decide which league they play in for the next Nations League tournament.
The playoffs are as follows:
- League A/B Playoffs – March 2025
The four teams that finish third in their Group in League A will face the four teams that finished second in their group in League B.
The winners of the Playoff games will play in League A in the next tournament, the losers will play in League B.
- League B/C Playoffs – March 2025
The four teams that finish third in their Group in League B will face the four teams that finished second in their Group in League C.
The winner of the playoffs will play in League B, with the losers playing in League C.
- League C/D Playoffs – March 2026
The two bottom teams from League C with the best records will face the two teams that finished second in their Group in League D.
The winners of these playoffs will play in League C in the next Nations League tournament, the losers in League D.
So What Does That All Mean?
Well now we know the outcome of the League Stage of the Nations League 2024/25, we can now place teams into their respective groupings.
The draws for the Playoffs and Quarterfinals will be made on Friday 22nd November 2024.
Nations League Quarter-Finals Teams
Group Winners (Pot 1) – Portugal, France, Germany and Spain
Group Runners Up (Pot 2) – Croatia, Italy, Netherlands and Denmark.
Confirmed Promotions & Relegations
Relegated from League A – Poland, Israel, Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Promoted from League B – England, Norway, Wales, Czech Republic
Relegated from League B – Albania, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Finland
Promoted from League C – Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
Relegated from League C – Azerbaijan, Lithuania
Promoted from League D – Moldova, San Marino
Staying Put
Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia will all remain in League A.
Belarus, Faroe Islands, Cyprus and Estonia will remain in League C after finishing third in their group.
Liechtenstein and Andorra remain in League D after finishing bottom of their group.
Nations League Promotion/Relegation Playoffs
League A/B Playoffs
League A 3rd Place Teams – Scotland, Serbia, Hungary, Belgium
League B 2nd Place Teams – Greece, Austria, Turkey, Ukraine
League B/C Playoffs
League B 3rd Place Teams – Scotland, Serbia, Hungary, Belgium
League C 2nd Place Teams – Greece, Austria, Turkey, Ukraine
League C/D Playoffs
League C Two best bottom placed teams – Latvia, Luxembourg
League D 2nd Place Teams – Malta, Gibraltar
Nations League 2024/25 Quarter Finals Draw – Made 22nd November 2024
- Spain v Netherlands (20th & 23rd March 2025)
- France v Croatia (20th & 23rd March 2025)
- Portugal v Denmark (20th & 23rd March 2025)
- Germany v Italy (20th & 23rd March 2025)
Nations League Semi-Finals, 3rd Place & Finals
- Spain or Netherlands v France or Croatia (June 4th)
- Germany or Italy v Portugal or Denmark (June 5th)
- 3rd Place (8th June)
- Final (8th June)
Nations League Promotion/Relegation Playoff Draw – Made 22nd November 2024
Nations League 2024/25 A/B Playoffs (20th & 23rd March 2025)
- Greece v Scotland
- Turkey v Hungary
- Ukraine v Belgium
- Austria v Serbia
Nations League 2024/25 B/C Playoffs (20th & 23rd March 2025)
- Kosovo v Iceland
- Bulgaria v Rep of Ireland
- Armenia v Georgia
- Slovakia v Slovenia
Nations League 2024/25 C/D Playoffs (26th & 30th March 2026)
- Gibraltar v Latvia
- Malta v Luxembourg
Nations League 2026/27 Current Groupings
After all that we now know which League a number of teams will play in at the next Nations League in 2026/27 – barring any further changes to the format!
League A – Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, England, Norway, Wales, Czech Republic, plus the four League A/B Playoff Winners.
League B – Poland, Israel, Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, plus the four League A/B Playoff Losers and the four League B/C Playoff winners.
League C – Albania, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Finland, Moldova, San Marino, Belarus, Faroe Islands, Cyprus, Estonia, plus the four League B/C Playoff losers and the two League C/D Playoff winners.
League D – Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Andorra, plus the two League C/D Playoff losers.
Check back in March 2025 when we will have the latest news ahead of the Nations League Nations League 2024/25 Quarterfinals and Promotion/Relegation Playoffs being played then!
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