Nations League 2024/25 fixtures, outcomes, desk, schedule, groups, venues: All you might want to learn about match | Soccer Information

The UEFA Nations League returns this week with the opening spherical of fixtures within the fourth version of the match.

The competitors was created to take away the unpopular friendlies from the calendar by changing them with significant fixtures – and as earlier than, it is going to be partially linked with European qualification for the following World Cup in 2026.

England interim boss Lee Carsley faces Republic of Eire in Dublin on Saturday in Heimir Hallgrimsson’s first sport in cost on the Aviva Stadium in League B.

Scotland are getting ready for a League A Group 1 opener towards Poland at Hampden Park on Thursday earlier than a visit to play Portugal in Lisbon subsequent Sunday, with Croatia additionally within the group.

Craig Bellamy begins his Wales reign towards Turkey, who have been Euro 2024 quarter-finalists this summer season, on the Cardiff Metropolis Stadium on Friday. Wales then go to Montenegro in League B three days later, the sport having been switched to Niksic at brief discover after the Podgorica Nationwide Stadium pitch was deemed unplayable by UEFA.

In 16 video games so far, League C hopefuls Northern Eire nonetheless have just one victory within the competitors – a 2-1 come-from-behind conquer Kosovo in September 2022 through which Josh Magennis scored a stoppage-time winner.

Sky Sports activities takes a have a look at what’s completely different to UEFA’s latest competitors and offers all the things you might want to know in regards to the newest version…

How does the league part work?

Overlook in regards to the new Champions League format – the Nations League nonetheless follows the standard system whereby every staff will play six matches of their group, one dwelling and one away towards the opposite three nations within the group.

The 54 UEFA member associations collaborating have been divided into 4 leagues based mostly on their leads to the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League. Two years in the past, England and Wales have been relegated to League B whereas Scotland have been promoted to League A. Republic of Eire and Northern Eire stay in Leagues B and C respectively.

The fourth-placed groups in Leagues A and B are robotically relegated to League B and C respectively. As earlier than, the 4 group winners in Leagues B and C, in addition to the 2 group winners in League D, are robotically promoted to Leagues A, B and C respectively.

The 2 lowest-ranked fourth-placed groups in League C, in the meantime, are relegated to League D.

And the winners of the 4 League A teams progress to the ultimate?

No – that is modified because the final version. Now, the Nations League has been expanded with a further knockout spherical to be performed in March 2025.

The League A bunch winners and runners-up will take part in home-and-away quarter-finals between March 20-25, with the winners of those ties qualifying for the finals subsequent June.

Every other modifications to the format?

Moreover, the third-ranked groups of League A and the runners-up of League B, in addition to the third-ranked groups of League B and the runners-up of League C, will play a home-and-away promotion/relegation play-off.

There may also be play-offs between the 2 best-ranked fourth-placed groups from League C and the 2 runners-up from League D.

So when are the Nations League finals?

The finals – to be staged by one of many 4 nations that qualify – are set to happen in June 2025.

The semi-finals will happen on June 4/5. The winners progress to the ultimate on June 8, whereas the 2 overwhelmed semi-finalists will face off for third place earlier on the identical day.

When is the draw for the promotion/relegation play-offs?

The draw for the promotion/relegation play-offs shall be held on November 22 2024 in Nyon, Switzerland, together with the draw for the League 1 / 4-finals.

For the League A/B and B/C ties, the primary legs shall be performed on March 20, and the second legs shall be performed on March 23. For the League C/D ties, the primary legs will happen on March 26 2026 with the return legs on March 31 2026.

Do groups qualify for World Cup 2026 by means of Nations League?

The street to Canada, Mexico, and the US technically begins right here. On the subject of the draw for World Cup qualification, every nationwide staff concerned may also be positioned in a ranked desk, based mostly on the efficiency within the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League.

Basically, the 4 highest ranked groups who don’t then safe an computerized place on the 2026 World Cup shall be granted a playoff security internet.

For 2026 World Cup qualifying, there shall be 12 teams of both 4 or 5 groups. Solely the group winners will qualify robotically for the match.

The 12 group runners-up and 4 finest Nations League group winners, based mostly on the Nations League total rating, shall be drawn into 4 play-off paths, enjoying two rounds of single-match play-offs (semi-finals with the seeded groups to host, adopted by finals, with the house groups to be drawn).

The 4 path winners will qualify for the World Cup finals.

Nations League 2024/25 attract full

League A

Group A1: Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Scotland.Group A2: Italy, Belgium, France, Israel.Group A3: Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Group A4: Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia.

League B

Group B1: Czech Republic, Ukraine, Albania, Georgia.Group B2: England, Finland, Republic of Eire, Greece.Group B3: Austria, Norway, Slovenia, Kazakhstan.Group B4: Wales, Iceland, Montenegro, Turkey.

League C

Group C1: Sweden, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Estonia.Group C2: Romania, Kosovo, Cyprus, Lithuania.Group C3: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Northern Eire, Belarus.Group C4: Armenia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Latvia.

League D

Group D1: Gibraltar, San Marino, Liechtenstein.Group D2: Moldova, Malta, Andorra.

Scotland fixtures

Scotland vs Poland – 05/09/24Portugal vs Scotland – 08/09/24Croatia vs Scotland – 12/10/24Scotland vs Portugal – 15/10/24Scotland vs Croatia – 15/11/24Poland vs Scotland – 18/11/24

England fixtures

Republic of Eire vs England – 07/09/24England vs Finland – 10/09/24England vs Greece – 10/10/24Finland vs England – 13/10/24Greece vs England – 14/11/24England vs Republic of Eire – 17/11/24

Republic of Eire fixtures

Republic of Eire vs England – 07/09/24Republic of Eire vs Greece – 10/09/24Finland vs Republic of Eire – 10/10/24Greece vs Republic of Eire – 13/10/24Republic of Eire vs Finland – 14/11/24England vs Republic of Eire – 17/11/24

Wales fixtures

Wales vs Turkey – 06/09/24Montenegro vs Wales – 09/09/24Iceland vs Wales – 11/10/24Wales vs Montenegro – 14/10/24Turkey vs Wales – 16/11/24Wales vs Iceland – 19/11/24

Northern Eire fixtures

Northern Eire vs Luxembourg – 05/09/24Bulgaria vs Northern Eire – 08/09/24Belarus vs Northern Eire – 12/10/24Northern Eire vs Bulgaria – 15/10/24Northern Eire vs Belarus – 15/11/24Luxembourg vs Northern Eire – 18/11/24

Nations League 2024/25 schedule

Matchday 1: September 5-7 2024Matchday 2: September 8-10 2024Matchday 3: October 10-12 2024Matchday 4: October 13-15 2024Matchday 5: November 14-16 2024Matchday 6: November 17-19 2024Knockout spherical play-off draw: November 2024Knockout spherical play-offs: March 20-25 2025League 1 / 4-finals: March 20-25 2025Final match: June 4-8 2025