UEFA Nations League

International football tournament.

The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international football competition involving the senior men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. Established in 2018, it aims to replace most international friendlies with competitive matches, providing national teams with regular, meaningful games against equally ranked opponents. The competition is structured into four leagues (A, B, C, and D) based on UEFA national team coefficients, with promotion and relegation between leagues.

In the 2024/25 edition, Leagues A, B, and C will each feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four, while League D will have 6 teams in two groups of three. Teams play home and away matches against other group members, typically in September, October, and November. The competition's format has evolved since its inception, with the 2024/25 edition introducing significant changes.

A new knockout stage will be implemented for League A, where the top two teams from each group advance to quarter-finals played over two legs in March 2025. The four winners then progress to the Nations League Finals in June, consisting of semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and the final. This expansion aims to increase competitiveness and maintain interest throughout the tournament.

The Nations League is partially linked to FIFA World Cup qualification. For the 2026 World Cup, 12 group winners from the main qualification phase will qualify directly. The second round (play-offs) will include 12 group runners-up and the four best Nations League group winners that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group, offering an additional pathway to the World Cup.

Spain are the current champions, having won the 2022/23 edition by defeating Croatia in the final. The competition has gained popularity for providing high-stakes matches outside of major tournaments and offering smaller nations a chance to compete against top teams.