The UEFA Nations League returns this week following a gripping summer of action at Euro 2024.
Ahead of the fourth iteration of the young competition, we’ve compiled a complete overview of everything to come over the next year as Europe’s elite sides go head to head battling for a place in next year’s final.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Nations League, from format to fixtures, ahead of kick off in the coming days.
Introduced in 2016, the UEFA Nations League offers an alternate qualification route to the European Championships, particularly benefitting the lower-ranked sides who previously stood no chance.
Winners of each group will be promoted into a higher division, while team who finish bottom will be relegated into the division below. Winners and runners up of the four groups in Division A then qualify for a knockout tournament at the end of the season to crown a UEFA Nations League champion.
UEFA Nations League Groups
Group A1
Poland
Portugal
Scotland
Croatia
Group A2
Belgium
France
Israel
Italy
Group A3
Germany
Hungary
Netherlands
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Group A4
Denmark
Spain
Switzerland
Serbia
Group B1
Albania
Georgia
Ukraine
Czechia
Group B2
England
Finland
Greece
Rep. Ireland
Group B3
Austria
Norway
Kazakhstan
Slovenia
Group B4
Iceland
Turkiye
Wales
Montenegro
Group C1
Sweden
Estonia
Azerbaijan
Slovakia
Group C2
Cyprus
Romania
Lithuania
Kosovo
Group C3
Bulgaria
Northern Ireland
Luxemburg
Belarus
Group C4
Faroe Islands
Latvia
Armenia
North Macedonia
Group D1
Liechtenstein
San Marino
Gibraltar
Group D2
Malta
Moldova
Andorra
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
Quarter-final and play offs
First leg
20 March 2025
Second leg
23 March 2025
Finals
Semi-finals
4–5 June 2025
Third place play-off
8 June 2025
Final
8 June 2025
Past winners
Portugal lifted the first-ever Nations League title with a 3-0 win over Switzerland in the semi-final before defeating the Netherlands in the final. England finished third thanks to a penalty shootout win over Switzerland in the third-placed playoff.
France then lifted the title three years after their World Cup success, defeating Spain 2-1 in the final in Italy.
Spain, however, got their own back, lifting the most recent title thanks to a penalty shootout win over Croatia, perhaps a prelude to the dominance that was to come at Euro 2024.
