UEFA Nations League 2024-25 Kicks Off with New Format Changes

The UEFA Nations League is officially back, starting its fourth edition with some notable changes in its format. Launched in the 2018-19 season to replace meaningless international friendlies with more competitive fixtures, this year’s tournament promises an exciting lineup of matches among Europe’s national teams.

The 2024-25 edition kicked off on September 5, 2024, featuring a total of 54 teams divided into four leagues labelled A to D. While Leagues A, B, and C each contain four groups of four teams, League D is comprised of two groups with three teams.

Each team will play a total of six matches during the league phase, facing the other three teams in their group twice, once at home and once away. The stakes are high for teams in Leagues B and C, as the four group winners will be promoted to the respective higher leagues, while the bottom-ranked teams in Leagues A and B will face automatic relegation.

This edition introduces a new knockout round format, where the top four teams from League A will now compete in home-and-away quarter-finals against the league’s runners-up to secure a place in the final four. This change aims to boost competitiveness and prevent complacency among participating teams.

Additionally, there will be promotion and relegation play-off matches involving third-placed teams in League A and runners-up from League B, as well as the third-placed teams in League B and runners-up in League C. This alteration enhances the chances for teams to either ascend or fall within the league structure.

Spain, the defending champions, aims to retain their title in the new format, while other heavyweights like Portugal and Italy look to excel. The tournament will run until June 2025, culminating in the final match that will crown the next Nations League champion.

Moreover, participation in this season’s Nations League holds significant implications for World Cup qualification. The competition will determine four spots in UEFA’s allocation for the FIFA World Cup 2026, increasing the stakes for all participating nations.