The UEFA Nations League is set to undergo significant changes starting with the 2024/25 edition, introducing a new knockout round in March to bridge the gap between the group stage, concluding in November, and the finals in June. This expansion aims to enhance the competition’s appeal by providing more competitive and engaging matches.
Key Changes to the UEFA Nations League:
- Quarter-Finals Introduction: In League A, group winners and runners-up will now compete in home-and-away quarter-final matches. The victors of these ties will advance to the ‘Final Four’ tournament held in June.
- Promotion and Relegation Play-Offs: Teams finishing third in League A will face the runners-up from League B in home-and-away promotion/relegation play-offs. Similarly, the third-placed teams in League B will compete against the runners-up from League C under the same format.
These modifications are designed to make the Nations League more compelling, offering additional opportunities for teams to progress while maintaining the existing number of matches within the International Match Calendar. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin emphasized that the introduction of the Nations League has been a success, replacing friendly games with more competitive encounters. The new knockout phase is expected to further enhance the competition’s excitement and competitiveness.
The 2025/26 UEFA Nations League will follow this revamped format, promising fans and participating nations a more dynamic and engaging tournament. These changes reflect UEFA’s commitment to continually evolving its competitions to better serve the interests of national teams and football enthusiasts across Europe.
Source: UEFA.com
