UEFA Nations League 2024-2025: Format, Teams, and Schedule Revealed

The UEFA Nations League for the 2024-2025 season is set to kick off on September 5, with Spain facing Serbia in Belgrade as they begin their title defense. This biennial competition involves 54 teams from UEFA member associations, structured into four leagues based on their performance in the previous edition. The league format is designed to enhance competitiveness among nations, reducing the number of meaningless friendly matches. Teams are categorized into groups within their respective leagues, with League A featuring top-ranked teams such as Croatia, Portugal, and Italy. Each team in Leagues A, B, and C will play six matches, while those in League D will play four. The competition includes a promotion and relegation system, where the top teams can advance to higher leagues, while the lowest-ranked teams face relegation. Additionally, the tournament has implications for World Cup qualification. The 12 group winners will secure direct entry into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while runners-up will enter playoffs. Notably, the four best-ranked group winners from the Nations League who do not qualify through other means will also have a chance to compete in the playoffs. The absence of Russian teams, suspended due to geopolitical issues, highlights the ongoing impact of international relations on sports. As the tournament unfolds, it promises to deliver exciting matches and significant stakes for participating nations.