The international break is back this November, and it’s time to hit pause on the Premier League and La Liga action.
Instead, we're diving into the fourth edition of the UEFA Nations League; a tournament that brings drama, surprises, and maybe even a few shock results to fans not just in Europe but all across the world.
In this article, we cover all the important details, including the latest changes in the format that every avid football fan needs to know.
The UEFA Nations League
The UEFA Nations League is a biennial tournament involving national teams from across Europe. In the 2024-25 season, 54 teams compete across four leagues, each with a different mission.
The 16 teams in League A are vying for the ultimate prize, the tournament trophy. Meanwhile, the 16 teams in League B are striving to secure promotion to the top tier and be in contention for the top prize.
In League C, the goal is to climb a level, while the six teams in League D are battling to rise from the lowest tier and possibly reach the top.
The Nations League has now been transformed into a competitive structure where meaningless friendlies have been scrapped. Every match is now vital not just for glory but also for promotion or relegation.
This tournament is not just about football; it’s a major revenue generator for UEFA and participating nations.
Key partners and sponsors play an important role in financing the tournament with global brands ranging from finance, tech, crypto, and online casinos, securing advertising space on everything from matchdays to team kits.
Major broadcasting deals also generate substantial revenue, with TV networks around the world buying rights to air the games.
What is the schedule for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League?
• 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
• Knockout round play-off draw: 22 November 2024
• Knockout round play-offs: 20-23 March 2025
• League A quarter-finals: 20-23 March 2025
• Final: 4-8 June 2025
Which countries are battling it out in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League?
League A
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
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
Group C1: Sweden, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Estonia
Group C2: Romania, Kosovo, Cyprus, Lithuania*
Group C3: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Belarus
Group C4: Armenia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Latvia
League D
Group D1: Gibraltar*, San Marino, Liechtenstein
Group D2: Moldova, Malta, Andorra
New Format for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League
The UEFA Nations League has introduced a new knockout round scheduled for March 2025. This move aims to bridge the gap between the group stage which concludes in November and the finals, which are set for June.
For the first time, the finalists will have some impact on the qualifying draw for the next FIFA World Cup. The group winners and runners-up from League A will face off in home-and-away quarter-finals, and the victors will secure a spot in the Final Four.
Regarding relegation, the fourth-placed teams in Leagues A and B will automatically drop to Leagues B and C, respectively. Similarly, the two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams in League C will move down to League D.
On the other hand, promotion awaits the group winners from Leagues B and C, who will move up to Leagues A and B. In League D, the two group winners will advance to League C.
The third-place teams in League A, the runners-up from League B, along with the third-place teams in League B and the runners-up in League C, will compete in home-and-away promotion/relegation play-offs.
Additionally, there will be play-offs between the two best-ranked fourth-place teams in League C and the two runners-up from League D. These matches will determine promotion and relegation across the leagues.
The expansion of the UEFA Nations League into the March International Match Calendar will apply to a select number of teams. The other nations will be free to commence their European Qualifiers during this window.
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League finals explained
The 2024-25 UEFA Nations League final game will take place in June 2025, and they will follow a simple knockout format. The country to host the finals will be one of the four nations advancing to the "Final Four" stage.
In a significant update this season, both group winners and runners-up from League A will progress to a newly introduced quarter-final stage, which will add more competitive and exciting clashes before the finals.
The semi-finals are set for Wednesday, June 4, and Thursday, June 5, 2025. The winners of these matches will advance to the final, which will take place on Sunday, June 8. On the same day, the losing semi-finalists will compete earlier in a third-place playoff to determine the tournament's 2nd runner-up.
That’s all you need to know about the UEFA Nations League. You can now sit back, relax, and enjoy some international flair.
