Jump to content

2024–25 UEFA Nations League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2024–25 UEFA Nations League
Tournament details
DatesLeague phase:
5 September – 19 November 2024
League A quarter-finals, and
League A/B and B/C play-offs:

20–23 March 2025
Nations League Finals:
4–8 June 2025
League C/D play-offs:
26–31 March 2026
Teams54
Tournament statistics
Matches played156
Goals scored403 (2.58 per match)[note 1]
Attendance3,293,825 (21,114 per match)
Top scorer(s)Sweden Viktor Gyökeres
(9 goals)
All statistics correct as of 19 November 2024.

The 2024–25 UEFA Nations League is the fourth installment of the UEFA Nations League tournament, an international association football competition involving the men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. The competition will be held from September to November 2024 (league phase), March 2025 (League A quarter-finals and both League A/B and B/C play-offs), June 2025 (Nations League Finals), and March 2026 (League C/D play-offs).

Spain are the defending champions, having won the 2023 finals.

Format

[edit]

The UEFA national teams were divided into four leagues, with Leagues A, B, and C featuring 16 teams each, divided into four groups of four teams, while League D features 6 teams divided into two groups of three. The teams were allocated to leagues based on the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League overall ranking.[1] Each team will play six matches within their group, except for teams in League D which will play four, using the home-and-away round-robin format on double matchdays in September, October and November 2024.[2]

On 25 January 2023, the UEFA Executive Committee confirmed an altered format for the Nations League following the league phase.[3][4] In the top division, League A, the group winners and runners-up will advance to a new quarter-final round, played home-and-away over two legs in March 2025. In each tie, group winners will face a runner-up from a different group, with the group winner hosting the second leg. The four quarter-final winners will qualify for the Nations League Finals, retaining its previous format, which is played in a knockout format, consisting of the semi-finals, third place play-off and final. The semi-final pairings are determined by means of a draw. The host country for the Nations League Finals will be selected from among the four qualified teams by the UEFA Executive Committee, with the winners of the final crowned as the Nations League champions.

Teams also compete for promotion and relegation to a higher or lower league. The group winners in Leagues B, C, and D are directly promoted, while the last-placed teams of each group in Leagues A and B are directly relegated. As League C has four groups while League D has only two, the two lowest-ranked League C teams will automatically be relegated (a change from the previous editions, which featured relegation play-outs between the fourth-placed teams of League C). As part of the format change, promotion/relegation play-offs will also be introduced, with the third-placed teams of League A facing the runners-up of League B, the third-placed teams of League B facing the runners-up of League C, and the two best-ranked fourth-placed teams of League C facing the runners-up of League D. The matches will be played home-and-away over two legs in March 2025 (League A/B and B/C) and March 2026 (League C/D), with the winners going to the higher league and the losers entering the lower league.[5]

In all two-legged ties, the higher-ranked teams host the second leg. The team that scores more goals on aggregate is the winner. If the aggregate score is level, extra time is played (the away goals rule is not applied). If the score remains level after extra time, a penalty shoot-out is used to decide the winner.[6]

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

[edit]

The 2024–25 Nations League will be partially linked with European qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the format confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee during their meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, on 28 June 2023.[7] The twelve group winners of FIFA World Cup qualification after the first round (group stage) will qualify directly for the World Cup. Then, the second round (play-offs) will be contested by the twelve group runners-up, along with the four best Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League overall ranking, that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group. The play-offs will be split into four play-off paths, played in two single-match knockout rounds (semi-finals and finals, with the home teams to be drawn), from which an additional four teams will also qualify.[8]

Tiebreakers

[edit]

Tiebreakers for group ranking

[edit]

If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied:[6]

  1. Higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question;
  2. Higher goal difference in matches played among the teams in question;
  3. Higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question;
  4. If, after having applied criteria 1 to 3, teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 3 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams in question to determine their final rankings.[a] If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 5 to 11 apply;
  5. Higher goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Higher number of away goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Higher number of wins in all group matches;
  9. Higher number of away wins in all group matches;
  10. Lower disciplinary points total in all group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card).
  11. Higher position in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League access list.

Notes

  1. ^ When two or more teams are tied in points, criteria 1 to 3 are applied. After these criteria are applied, they may define the position of some of the teams involved, but not all of them. For example, if there is a three-way tie on points, the application of the first three criteria may only break the tie for one of the teams, leaving the other two teams still tied. In this case, the tiebreaking procedure is resumed, from the beginning, for those teams that are still tied.

Criteria for league ranking

[edit]

Individual league rankings are established according to the following criteria:[6]

  1. Position in the group;
  2. Higher number of points;
  3. Higher goal difference;
  4. Higher number of goals scored;
  5. Higher number of goals scored away from home;
  6. Higher number of wins;
  7. Higher number of wins away from home;
  8. Lower disciplinary points total (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card).
  9. Higher position in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League access list.

Criteria for interim overall ranking

[edit]

Following the completion of the league phase, the interim overall UEFA Nations League rankings are established as follows:[6]

  1. The 16 League A teams are ranked 1st to 16th according to their league rankings.
  2. The 16 League B teams are ranked 17th to 32nd according to their league rankings.
  3. The 16 League C teams are ranked 33rd to 48th according to their league rankings.
  4. The 6 League D teams are ranked 49th to 54th according to their league rankings.

Criteria for final overall ranking

[edit]

Following the completion of the League A knockout stage and promotion/relegation play-offs, the final overall UEFA Nations League rankings are established. Within each of the groups listed below, teams are ordered based on their interim overall ranking.[6]

  1. The four Nations League Finals participants are ranked as follows:
    1. The winner is ranked 1st;
    2. The runner-up is ranked 2nd;
    3. The third-placed team is ranked 3rd;
    4. The fourth-placed team is ranked 4th.
  2. The four League A quarter-final losers are ranked 5th to 8th.
  3. The four teams directly promoted to League A, and the four winners of the League A/B play-offs, are ranked 9th to 16th.
  4. The four teams directly relegated to League B, and the four losers of the League A/B play-offs, are ranked 17th to 24th.
  5. The four teams directly promoted to League B, and the four winners of the League B/C play-offs, are ranked 25th to 32nd.
  6. The four teams directly relegated to League C, and the four losers of the League B/C play-offs, are ranked 33rd to 40th.
  7. The four League C third-placed teams remain ranked 41st to 44th.
  8. The two teams directly promoted to League C, and the two winners of the League C/D play-offs, are ranked 45th to 48th.
  9. The two teams directly relegated to League D, and the two losers of the League C/D play-offs, will be ranked 49th to 52nd.
  10. The two League D third-placed teams remain ranked 53rd and 54th.

Schedule

[edit]

Below is the schedule of the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League.[6]

To allow for enough teams to participate in the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification group stage in March 2025, the League C/D promotion/relegation play-offs will be played in March 2026. If any of the teams due to participate in these ties advance to the World Cup play-offs in March 2026, the League C/D promotion/relegation play-offs will be cancelled, and all teams will remain in their respective leagues for the following edition.[6]

Stage Round Dates
League phase 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
League A quarter-finals, and
League A/B and B/C 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
League C/D play-offs First leg 26 March 2026
Second leg 31 March 2026

The fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 9 February 2024, the day following the draw.[9][10][11][12]

Seeding

[edit]
Map showing the league for each national team.
  League A
  League B
  League C
  League D
  Team suspended from competition

54 of UEFA's 55 national teams entered the competition. Russia, slated to participate in League C, were suspended due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.[13] The teams which finished bottom of their group in Leagues A and B, as well as the losers from the relegation play-outs of League C, from the 2022–23 season moved down a league, while the group winners of Leagues B, C and D moved up. The remaining teams stayed in their respective leagues.[14]

In an interview with the Polish website meczyki.pl, UEFA vice-president Zbigniew Boniek said that all ten teams from CONMEBOL, South America's football federation, could join the UEFA Nations League from the 2024–25 edition of the competition.[15] The plans, which would act as a response to FIFA's biennial World Cup plans, were intended as part of enhanced cooperation between the two organisations following the signing of a memorandum of understanding and the opening of a joint office in London.[16] However, such an expansion was not possible after CONMEBOL submitted a request to FIFA to maintain the round-robin qualification format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[17] On 25 January 2023, the UEFA Executive Committee confirmed the format for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, with no South American teams to be added.[3]

In the 2022–23 access list, UEFA ranked teams based on the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League overall ranking,[18] with slight modifications: teams that were relegated in the previous season were ranked immediately below those who were promoted, and rankings shifted with the removal of Russia.[6] The seeding pots for the league phase were based on the access list ranking. The seeding pots, draw procedure, and fixture list procedures were confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee during their meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on 2 December 2023.[19]

Key
Rise Promoted after previous season
Fall Relegated after previous season
* Participated in relegation play-outs
League A
Pot Team Prv Rank
1  Spain (title holders) 1
 Croatia 2
 Italy 3
 Netherlands 4
2  Denmark 5
 Portugal 6
 Belgium 7
 Hungary 8
3   Switzerland 9
 Germany 10
 Poland 11
 France 12
4  Israel Rise 13
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Rise 14
 Serbia Rise 15
 Scotland Rise 16
League B
Pot Team Prv Rank
1  Austria Fall 17
 Czech Republic Fall 18
 England Fall 19
 Wales Fall 20
2  Finland 21
 Ukraine 22
 Iceland 23
 Norway 24
3  Slovenia 25
 Republic of Ireland 26
 Albania 27
 Montenegro 28
4  Georgia Rise 29
 Greece Rise 30
 Turkey Rise 31
 Kazakhstan Rise 32
League C
Pot Team Prv Rank
1  Romania Fall 33
 Sweden Fall 34
 Armenia Fall 35
 Luxembourg 36
2  Azerbaijan 37
 Kosovo 38
 Bulgaria 39
 Faroe Islands 40
3  North Macedonia 41
 Slovakia 42
 Northern Ireland 43
 Cyprus 44
4  Belarus 45
 Lithuania[a] * 46
 Estonia Rise 47
 Latvia Rise 48
League D
Pot Team Prv Rank
1  Gibraltar[a] Fall* 49
 Moldova 50
2  Malta 51
 Andorra 52
 San Marino 53
 Liechtenstein 54
Suspended from entering competition
Team
 Russia
  1. ^ a b The identity of the winners and losers of the League C relegation play-outs (involving Gibraltar and Lithuania) was unknown at the time of the draw.

The draw for the league phase took place at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris, France, on 8 February 2024, 18:00 CET.[20][21][22] The draw, originally planned to take place in Madrid, was relocated due to the Luis Rubiales scandal.[23][24]

For political reasons, Armenia and Azerbaijan (due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict) could not be drawn into the same group. Due to excessive travel restrictions, only one of England, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland or Wales could be drawn with Kazakhstan. No winter venue restrictions were necessary for countries with a risk of severe winter weather, and several other potential political and excessive travel restrictions were not required because the teams concerned were either in different leagues or the same draw pot.[1]

League A

[edit]

Group A1

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation Portugal Croatia Scotland Poland
1  Portugal 6 4 2 0 13 5 +8 14 Advance to quarter-finals 2–1 2–1 5–1
2  Croatia 6 2 2 2 8 8 0 8 1–1 2–1 1–0
3  Scotland 6 2 1 3 7 8 −1 7 Qualification for relegation play-offs 0–0 1–0 2–3
4  Poland (R) 6 1 1 4 9 16 −7 4 Relegation to League B 1–3 3–3 1–2
Source: UEFA
(R) Relegated

Group A2

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation France Italy Belgium Israel
1  France 6 4 1 1 12 6 +6 13[a] Advance to quarter-finals 1–3 2–0 0–0
2  Italy 6 4 1 1 13 8 +5 13[a] 1–3 2–2 4–1
3  Belgium 6 1 1 4 6 9 −3 4[b] Qualification for relegation play-offs 1–2 0–1 3–1
4  Israel (R) 6 1 1 4 5 13 −8 4[b] Relegation to League B 1–4 1–2 1–0
Source: UEFA
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head to head results. Overall goal difference: France +6, Italy +5.
  2. ^ a b Tied on head to head points. Head to head goal difference: Belgium +1, Israel –1.

Group A3

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation Germany Netherlands Hungary Bosnia and Herzegovina
1  Germany 6 4 2 0 18 4 +14 14 Advance to quarter-finals 1–0 5–0 7–0
2  Netherlands 6 2 3 1 13 7 +6 9 2–2 4–0 5–2
3  Hungary 6 1 3 2 4 11 −7 6 Qualification for relegation play-offs 1–1 1–1 0–0
4  Bosnia and Herzegovina (R) 6 0 2 4 4 17 −13 2 Relegation to League B 1–2 1–1 0–2
Source: UEFA
(R) Relegated

Group A4

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation Spain Denmark Serbia Switzerland
1  Spain 6 5 1 0 13 4 +9 16 Advance to quarter-finals 1–0 3–0 3–2
2  Denmark 6 2 2 2 7 5 +2 8 1–2 2–0 2–0
3  Serbia 6 1 3 2 3 6 −3 6 Qualification for relegation play-offs 0–0 0–0 2–0
4   Switzerland (R) 6 0 2 4 6 14 −8 2 Relegation to League B 1–4 2–2 1–1
Source: UEFA
(R) Relegated

Knockout stage

[edit]

Bracket

[edit]
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 Italy
4–5 June – TBD
 Germany
Winner quarter-final 4
Winner quarter-final 3
 Denmark
8 June – TBD
 Portugal
Winner semi-final A
Winner semi-final B
 Netherlands
4–5 June – TBD
 Spain
Winner quarter-final 1Third place play-off
Winner quarter-final 2 8 June – TBD
 Croatia
Loser semi-final A
 France
Loser semi-final B

Quarter-finals

[edit]

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 22 November 2024, 12:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, along with the draw for the semi-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs.[25][26] In the draw, teams from the same group could not be drawn against each other.[27] The first legs will be played on 20 March, and the second legs will be played on 23 March 2025.[10]

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Netherlands 1 Spain20 Mar23 Mar
Croatia 2 France20 Mar23 Mar
Denmark 3 Portugal20 Mar23 Mar
Italy 4 Germany20 Mar23 Mar

Nations League Finals

[edit]

The host of the Nations League Finals will preferably be selected from the four qualified teams. The semi-finals pairings were determined by means of an open draw on 22 November 2024, 12:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, along with the draw for the League A quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs.[25][26] For scheduling purposes, the host team will be allocated to semi-final 1 as the administrative home team.[27]

Times are CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA.

Semi-finals
[edit]
Winner quarter-final 4Semi-final AWinner quarter-final 3
Report

Winner quarter-final 1Semi-final BWinner quarter-final 2
Report
Third-place play-off
[edit]
Loser semi-final AMatch 3Loser semi-final B
Final
[edit]
Winner semi-final AMatch 4Winner semi-final B

Top goalscorers

[edit]

There have been 141 goals scored in 48 matches, for an average of 2.94 goals per match (as of 19 November 2024).

Rank Player Goals
League A top goalscorers
1 Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo 5
2 France Randal Kolo Muani 3
Germany Deniz Undav
Germany Florian Wirtz
Hungary Dominik Szoboszlai
Italy Davide Frattesi
Netherlands Denzel Dumfries
Switzerland Zeki Amdouni
9 23 players 2

League B

[edit]

Group B1

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation Czech Republic Ukraine Georgia (country) Albania
1  Czech Republic (P) 6 3 2 1 9 8 +1 11 Promotion to League A 3–2 2–1 2–0
2  Ukraine 6 2 2 2 8 8 0 8 Qualification for promotion play-offs 1–1 1–0 1–2
3  Georgia 6 2 1 3 7 6 +1 7[a] Qualification for relegation play-offs 4–1 1–1 0–1
4  Albania (R) 6 2 1 3 4 6 −2 7[a] Relegation to League C 0–0 1–2 0–1
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head results. Overall goal difference: Georgia +1, Albania –2.

Group B2

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation England Greece Republic of Ireland Finland
1  England (P) 6 5 0 1 16 3 +13 15[a] Promotion to League A 1–2 5–0 2–0
2  Greece 6 5 0 1 11 4 +7 15[a] Qualification for promotion play-offs 0–3 2–0 3–0
3  Republic of Ireland 6 2 0 4 3 12 −9 6 Qualification for relegation play-offs 0–2 0–2 1–0
4  Finland (R) 6 0 0 6 2 13 −11 0 Relegation to League C 1–3 0–2 1–2
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head to head points. Head-to-head goal difference: England +2, Greece −2.

Group B3

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation Norway Austria Slovenia Kazakhstan
1  Norway (P) 6 4 1 1 15 7 +8 13 Promotion to League A 2–1 3–0 5–0
2  Austria 6 3 2 1 14 5 +9 11 Qualification for promotion play-offs 5–1 1–1 4–0
3  Slovenia 6 2 2 2 7 9 −2 8 Qualification for relegation play-offs 1–4 1–1 3–0
4  Kazakhstan (R) 6 0 1 5 0 15 −15 1 Relegation to League C 0–0 0–2 0–1
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Group B4

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation Wales Turkey Iceland Montenegro
1  Wales (P) 6 3 3 0 9 4 +5 12 Promotion to League A 0–0 4–1 1–0
2  Turkey 6 3 2 1 9 6 +3 11 Qualification for promotion play-offs 0–0 3–1 1–0
3  Iceland 6 2 1 3 10 13 −3 7 Qualification for relegation play-offs 2–2 2–4 2–0
4  Montenegro (R) 6 1 0 5 4 9 −5 3 Relegation to League C 1–2 3–1 0–2
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Top goalscorers

[edit]

There were 128 goals scored in 48 matches, for an average of 2.67 goals per match.

Rank Player Goals
League B top goalscorers
1 Norway Erling Haaland 7
2 Slovenia Benjamin Šeško 5
3 Turkey Kerem Aktürkoğlu 4
Wales Harry Wilson
5 Czech Republic Pavel Šulc 3
England Harry Kane
Georgia (country) Georges Mikautadze
Greece Fotis Ioannidis
Iceland Orri Óskarsson
Montenegro Nikola Krstović
Norway Antonio Nusa
Norway Alexander Sørloth

League C

[edit]

Group C1

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation Sweden Slovakia Estonia Azerbaijan
1  Sweden (P) 6 5 1 0 19 4 +15 16 Promotion to League B 2–1 3–0 6–0
2  Slovakia 6 4 1 1 10 5 +5 13 Qualification for promotion play-offs 2–2 1–0 2–0
3  Estonia 6 1 1 4 3 9 −6 4 0–3 0–1 3–1
4  Azerbaijan (R) 6 0 1 5 3 17 −14 1 Relegation to League D 1–3 1–3 0–0
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Group C2

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation Romania Kosovo Cyprus Lithuania
1  Romania (P) 6 6 0 0 18 3 +15 18 Promotion to League B 3–0[a] 4–1 3–1
2  Kosovo 6 4 0 2 10 7 +3 12 Qualification for promotion play-offs 0–3 3–0 1–0
3  Cyprus 6 2 0 4 4 15 −11 6 0–3 0–4 2–1
4  Lithuania (R) 6 0 0 6 4 11 −7 0 Relegation to League D 1–2 1–2 0–1
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ The Romania v Kosovo match was suspended at 0–0 during second-half stoppage time, after the Kosovo team left the pitch, with the match abandoned thereafter.[28] The match was subsequently awarded as a 3–0 win for Romania.[29]

Group C3

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation Northern Ireland Bulgaria Belarus Luxembourg
1  Northern Ireland (P) 6 3 2 1 11 3 +8 11 Promotion to League B 5–0 2–0 2–0
2  Bulgaria 6 2 3 1 3 6 −3 9 Qualification for promotion play-offs 1–0 1–1 0–0
3  Belarus 6 1 4 1 3 4 −1 7 0–0 0–0 1–1
4  Luxembourg 6 0 3 3 3 7 −4 3 Qualification for relegation play-offs 2–2 0–1 0–1
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted

Group C4

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation North Macedonia Armenia Faroe Islands Latvia
1  North Macedonia (P) 6 5 1 0 10 1 +9 16 Promotion to League B 2–0 1–0 1–0
2  Armenia 6 2 1 3 8 9 −1 7 Qualification for promotion play-offs 0–2 0–1 4–1
3  Faroe Islands 6 1 3 2 5 6 −1 6 1–1 2–2 1–1
4  Latvia 6 1 1 4 4 11 −7 4 Qualification for relegation play-offs 0–3 1–2 1–0
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted

Ranking of fourth-placed teams

[edit]
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 C4  Latvia 6 1 1 4 4 11 −7 4 Qualification for relegation play-offs
2 C3  Luxembourg 6 0 3 3 3 7 −4 3
3 C1  Azerbaijan (R) 6 0 1 5 3 17 −14 1 Relegation to League D
4 C2  Lithuania (R) 6 0 0 6 4 11 −7 0
Source: UEFA
(R) Relegated

Top goalscorers

[edit]

There were 115 goals scored in 48 matches, for an average of 2.4 goals per match.[note 1]

Rank Player Goals
League C top goalscorers
1 Sweden Viktor Gyökeres 9
2 Romania Răzvan Marin 6
3 Northern Ireland Isaac Price 4
Slovakia David Strelec
Sweden Alexander Isak
6 North Macedonia Bojan Miovski 3
7 15 players 2

League D

[edit]

Group D1

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification San Marino Gibraltar Liechtenstein
1  San Marino (P) 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7 Promotion to League C 1–1 1–0
2  Gibraltar 4 1 3 0 4 3 +1 6 Qualification for promotion play-offs 1–0 2–2
3  Liechtenstein 4 0 2 2 3 6 −3 2 1–3 0–0
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted

Group D2

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification Moldova Malta Andorra
1  Moldova (P) 4 3 0 1 5 1 +4 9 Promotion to League C 2–0 2–0
2  Malta 4 2 1 1 2 2 0 7 Qualification for promotion play-offs 1–0 0–0
3  Andorra 4 0 1 3 0 4 −4 1 0–1 0–1
Source: UEFA
(P) Promoted

Top goalscorers

[edit]

There were 19 goals scored in 12 matches, for an average of 1.58 goals per match.

Rank Player Goals
League D top goalscorers
1 Gibraltar Liam Walker 2
San Marino Nicola Nanni
3 Gibraltar Ethan Britto 1
Gibraltar James Scanlon
Liechtenstein Nicolas Hasler
Liechtenstein Ferhat Saglam
Liechtenstein Aron Sele
Malta Ryan Camenzuli
Malta Teddy Teuma
Moldova Mihail Caimacov
Moldova Maxim Cojocaru
Moldova Artur Ioniță
Moldova Ion Nicolaescu
Moldova Virgiliu Postolachi
San Marino Alessandro Golinucci
San Marino Lorenzo Lazzari
San Marino Nicko Sensoli

Promotion/relegation play-offs

[edit]

The draw for the promotion/relegation play-offs was held on 22 November 2024, 12:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, along with the draw for the League A quarter-finals and semi-finals.[25][27][26] The League A/B and B/C play-off matches are scheduled for 20 and 23 March 2025. To ensure enough teams are available for the March 2025 window of World Cup qualifying, the League C/D play-off matches are scheduled for 26 and 31 March 2026.[10] However, if any team participating in the League C/D play-offs qualifies for the UEFA play-offs, then the League C/D play-offs will be cancelled, and the teams will remain in their respective leagues.[6][30]

League A vs League B

[edit]
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Turkey 1 Hungary20 Mar23 Mar
Ukraine 2 Belgium20 Mar23 Mar
Austria 3 Serbia20 Mar23 Mar
Greece 4 Scotland20 Mar23 Mar

League B vs League C

[edit]
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Kosovo 1 Iceland20 Mar23 Mar
Bulgaria 2 Republic of Ireland20 Mar23 Mar
Armenia 3 Georgia20 Mar23 Mar
Slovakia 4 Slovenia20 Mar23 Mar

League C vs League D

[edit]
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Gibraltar 1 Latvia26 Mar '2631 Mar '26
Malta 2 Luxembourg26 Mar '2631 Mar '26

Overall ranking

[edit]

Starting from the 2024–25 season, the overall rankings are split into interim and final versions. While the interim overall rankings will be based on league rankings, explicitly ordering teams from higher leagues over those from lower ones, the final overall rankings will take into account the results of the League A knockout stage and promotion/relegation play-offs, updating the interim overall rankings accordingly.[6]

Interim overall ranking

[edit]

Following the conclusion of the league phase in November 2024, an interim overall ranking is established based on the results of each league.[6]

League A League B
Rnk Team Pld Pts
1  Spain 6 16
2  Germany 6 14
3  Portugal 6 14
4  France 6 13
5  Italy 6 13
6  Netherlands 6 9
7  Denmark 6 8
8  Croatia 6 8
9  Scotland 6 7
10  Serbia 6 6
11  Hungary 6 6
12  Belgium 6 4
13  Poland 6 4
14  Israel 6 4
15   Switzerland 6 2
16  Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 2
Source: UEFA
Rnk Team Pld Pts
17  England 6 15
18  Norway 6 13
19  Wales 6 12
20  Czech Republic 6 11
21  Greece 6 15
22  Austria 6 11
23  Turkey 6 11
24  Ukraine 6 8
25  Slovenia 6 8
26  Georgia 6 7
27  Iceland 6 7
28  Republic of Ireland 6 6
29  Albania 6 7
30  Montenegro 6 3
31  Kazakhstan 6 1
32  Finland 6 0
Source: UEFA
League C League D
Rnk Team Pld Pts
33  Romania 6 18
34  Sweden 6 16
35  North Macedonia 6 16
36  Northern Ireland 6 11
37  Slovakia 6 13
38  Kosovo 6 12
39  Bulgaria 6 9
40  Armenia 6 7
41  Belarus 6 7
42  Faroe Islands 6 6
43  Cyprus 6 6
44  Estonia 6 4
45  Latvia 6 4
46  Luxembourg 6 3
47  Azerbaijan 6 1
48  Lithuania 6 0
Source: UEFA
Rnk Team Pld Pts
49  Moldova 4 9
50  San Marino 4 7
51  Malta 4 7
52  Gibraltar 4 6
53  Liechtenstein 4 2
54  Andorra 4 1
Source: UEFA

Final overall ranking

[edit]

The final overall ranking, established at the conclusion of the competition, adjusts the interim overall ranking by taking into account the results of the League A knockout stage and promotion/relegation play-offs. Teams that are promoted at the end of the 2024–25 season are ranked above those who are relegated, with the final rankings reflecting the composition of leagues for the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League.[6]

Key
Rise Promoted after the season
Fall Relegated after the season
* Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs
2026–27 League A participants 2026–27 League B participants
Rnk Team P/R
1 Nations League Finals winner   
2 Nations League Finals runner-up   
3 Nations League Finals 3rd place   
4 Nations League Finals 4th place   
5 Best quarter-final loser   
6 2nd best quarter-final loser   
7 3rd best quarter-final loser   
8 Worst quarter-final loser   
9–16 League A/B play-off winner *
9–16 League A/B play-off winner *
9–16 League A/B play-off winner *
9–16 League A/B play-off winner *
9–13  England Rise
10–14  Norway Rise
11–15  Wales Rise
12–16  Czech Republic Rise
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024.
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria
Rnk Team P/R
17–21  Poland Fall
18–22  Israel Fall
19–23   Switzerland Fall
20–24  Bosnia and Herzegovina Fall
17–24 League A/B play-off loser *
17–24 League A/B play-off loser *
17–24 League A/B play-off loser *
17–24 League A/B play-off loser *
25–32 League B/C play-off winner *
25–32 League B/C play-off winner *
25–32 League B/C play-off winner *
25–32 League B/C play-off winner *
25–29  Romania Rise
26–30  Sweden Rise
27–31  North Macedonia Rise
28–32  Northern Ireland Rise
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024.
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria
2026–27 League C participants 2026–27 League D participants
Rnk Team P/R
33–37  Albania Fall
34–38  Montenegro Fall
35–39  Kazakhstan Fall
36–40  Finland Fall
33–40 League B/C play-off loser *
33–40 League B/C play-off loser *
33–40 League B/C play-off loser *
33–40 League B/C play-off loser *
41  Belarus   
42  Faroe Islands   
43  Cyprus   
44  Estonia   
45–48 League C/D play-off winner *
45–48 League C/D play-off winner *
45–47  Moldova Rise
46–48  San Marino Rise
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024.
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria
Rnk Team P/R
49–51  Azerbaijan Fall
50–52  Lithuania Fall
49–52 League C/D play-off loser *
49–52 League C/D play-off loser *
53  Liechtenstein   
54  Andorra   
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024.
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria

2026 World Cup qualification play-offs

[edit]

Based on the interim overall ranking, the best four Nations League group winners that finish outside the top two of their World Cup qualifying group will join the twelve group runners-up in the World Cup qualification second round (play-offs). If fewer than four Nations League group winners can be selected, the remaining spot(s) will be allocated to the best remaining team(s) in the Nations League interim overall ranking that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group.[31]

UNL Rank Team Qualifying
group
Nations League group winners
A 1  Spain (X)
2  Germany (X)
3  Portugal (X)
4  France (X)
B 17  England
18  Norway
19  Wales
20  Czech Republic
C 33  Romania
34  Sweden
35  North Macedonia
36  Northern Ireland
D 49  Moldova
50  San Marino
Nations League remaining teams
A 5  Italy
6  Netherlands
7  Denmark
8  Croatia
9  Scotland
10  Serbia
11  Hungary
12  Belgium
13  Poland
14  Israel
15   Switzerland
16  Bosnia and Herzegovina
B 21  Greece
22  Austria

Key

  • (X) Team is assured at least a play-off spot based on Nations League ranking

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b The goal tally takes into account the original result of fixtures that were subsequently forfeited, not the awarded scoreline.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "UEFA Nations League – League phase draw procedure" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  2. ^ "2024/25 UEFA Nations League: All you need to know". UEFA.com. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "New formats for UEFA men's national team competitions approved". UEFA. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Nations League set to expand with new knockout round from 2024/25". UEFA. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  5. ^ "New formats for UEFA men's national team competitions" (PDF). UEFA. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Regulations of the UEFA Nations League, 2024/25" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Lisbon to host UEFA Women's Champions League final in 2025". UEFA. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  8. ^ "CONMEBOL kick off journey of "great joy and happiness" to historic FIFA World Cup 2026, says FIFA President". FIFA. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Fixture list procedure for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League league phase" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "2024/25 Nations League: All the league phase fixtures". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  11. ^ "UEFA Nations League 2024/25 – Fixture List: League Phase (by league)" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  12. ^ "UEFA Nations League 2024/25 – Fixture List: League Phase (by matchday)" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  13. ^ "FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions". FIFA (Press release). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  14. ^ "2022/23 UEFA Nations League: All you need to know". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  15. ^ Włodarczyk, Tomasz. "Rewolucja w Lidze Narodów! Czeka nas mini-mundial. Polska może zagrać z Brazylią! [NASZ NEWS]". Meczyki.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  16. ^ "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew and extend Memorandum of Understanding". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Países sudamericanos pedirán a la FIFA mantener el formato de las Eliminatorias" [South American countries will ask FIFA to maintain the format of the Qualifiers] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Overall ranking of the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  19. ^ "UEFA EURO 2024 prize money distribution system confirmed". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  20. ^ "2024/25 UEFA Nations League: League phase draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  21. ^ "2024/25 UEFA Nations League: League phase draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Nations League draw: Italy and France to meet in 2024/25 league phase". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Warsaw to host 2024 UEFA Super Cup". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  24. ^ Mukherjee, Soham (26 September 2023). "UEFA moves 2024 annual congress from Madrid to Paris in wake of Luis Rubiales scandal". Goal. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  25. ^ a b c "2024/25 UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off draws". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  26. ^ a b c "Nations League knockout stage and play-off draw: Italy vs Germany among quarter-final ties". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  27. ^ a b c "UNL 2024/25 – Knock-out stage and play-off draw – Draw procedure" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  28. ^ "Romania v Kosovo Nations League game abandoned after alleged Serbia chants". BBC Sport. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  29. ^ "UEFA Appeals Body decision announced". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Draw procedure for the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 knockout stage and play-off draw – Fixture list procedure for the European Qualifiers 2024–26" (ZIP). UEFA Circular Letter. No. 64/2024. Union of European Football Associations. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  31. ^ "UEFA Preliminary Competition for the FIFA World Cup 26 – Additional Competition Information" (PDF). FIFA. September 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
[edit]