UEFA Nations League

The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA, the sport's European governing body.[1]

UEFA Nations League
Founded2018 (2018)
RegionEurope (UEFA)
Number of teams55
Current champions Portugal (1st title)
Most successful team(s) Portugal (1 title)
Television broadcastersList of broadcasters
WebsiteOfficial website
2020–21 UEFA Nations League

The first tournament began in September 2018, following the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The four group winners from League A qualified for the finals, played in Portugal in June 2019. Four nations, one from each League, will also qualify for the UEFA Euro 2020 finals.

The competition largely replaces the international friendly matches previously played on the FIFA International Match Calendar.[2]

Adoption

In October 2013, Norwegian Football Association President Yngve Hallén confirmed that talks had been held to create a third full national-team international tournament for UEFA members[3] in addition to the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.

The concept of the UEFA Nations League would see all 55 of UEFA's member associations' national teams divided into a series of groups based upon a ranking formulated using their recent results, where they would be promoted and relegated to other groups according to their results within the group.[4] The proposed tournament would take place on dates on the FIFA International Match Calendar that were previously allocated for international friendlies and would not affect the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship.[5]

In March 2014, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino stated that one of the benefits of the proposal would be to help less glamorous national associations arrange games.[5]

Royal Belgian Football Association's general secretary Steven Martens said that lower ranked nations would still benefit financially from the competition, as the television contract with UEFA would be centralised.[6] The UEFA Nations League was unanimously adopted by the 54 UEFA member associations (Kosovo was not a member at this time) at the XXXVIII Ordinary UEFA Congress in Astana on 27 March 2014.[1]

Format

Original format

According to the approved format (prior to Kosovo becoming a UEFA member),[1][7][8] the now 55 UEFA national teams (including Kosovo) are divided into four divisions (called "Leagues"):[9][10] 12 teams in League A, 12 teams in League B, 15 teams in League C, and 16 teams in League D. In each league, four groups are formed (three or four teams in each group) and teams play each other both home and away.

Adjustment starting from 2020–21

After the completion of the first season, UEFA decided to adjust the format of the Nations League starting from the 2020–21 season. The new league structure comprises 16 teams in Leagues A, B and C and seven teams in League D.[11]

Nations League Finals, promotion and relegation

In the top league, League A, the winners of the four groups go on to play in the Nations League Finals, with two semi finals, one third and fourth place decider, and one final to decide which team becomes the UEFA Nations League champion.

Teams can also be promoted and relegated to a higher or lower league. Starting in 2020–21, each group winner (there are four groups in Leagues A, B, and C, and two groups in League D) except for League A, who will go on to play in the Nations League Finals, is automatically promoted to the next higher league for the next tournament. Each team placing last in its group in the Leagues A and B is automatically relegated to the next lower league; as League C has four groups while League D has only two, the two League C teams that are to be relegated are determined by play-outs beginning in March 2022. Based on the Nations League overall ranking of the fourth-placed teams, the first-ranked team will face the fourth-ranked team, and the second-ranked team will face the third-ranked team. Two ties are played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home (the higher-ranked team will host the second leg). The two teams that score more goals on aggregate over the two legs will remain in League C, while the losing teams will be relegated to League D.

Main article: UEFA European Championship qualifying

The UEFA Nations League is linked with the UEFA European Championship qualifying, providing teams another chance to qualify for the UEFA European Championship.

There will be play-offs for each of Leagues A, B, C and D in March 2020. Each group winner earns a spot in the semi-finals. If the group winner is already one of the 20 qualified teams, rankings will be used to give the play-off spot to another team of that league. If fewer than four teams in the entire league remain unqualified, play-off spots for that league are given to teams of the next lower league. This determines the four remaining qualifying spots for the European Championship (out of 24 total).[9][10][12]

Main article: FIFA World Cup qualification § Europe

The Nations League will be partially linked with European qualification for the FIFA World Cup. The qualifying structure will depend on results from the Nations League, although to a lesser degree than is done for the UEFA European Championship qualifying play-offs. The ten group winners after the first round (group stage) will qualify directly for the World Cup. Then, the second round (play-offs) will be contested by the ten group runners-up, along with the best two 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 three 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 three teams will also qualify.[13]

Support and criticism

UEFA devised the tournament as a means to eliminate international friendlies – an aim that has been shared by many football clubs and supporters with the regular football season being interrupted with non-competitive international matches as part of the FIFA International Match Calendar.[14][15][16]

In February 2012, it was agreed between UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA) that the international friendly schedule would be reduced from 12 to 9 matches a year with the August round of international friendlies in the UEFA confederation abolished from 2015.[17] The aspiration to eliminate friendlies in favour of a more competitive tournament has been welcomed by many football commentators.[18][19]

Supporters more than most realise that most friendlies fail to deliver competitive and meaningful football. Now they will have the opportunity to see their teams play in more competitive matches, take part in a new competition and get a second chance to qualify for the major tournaments. There will certainly be fewer friendly internationals and undoubtedly fewer meaningless friendlies. However, there will still be space in the calendar for friendly internationals – particularly warm-up matches for final tournaments. UEFA is also keen that European teams will still have the chance to play opponents from other confederations.

— The Nations League was partly created out of UEFA's aspiration to eliminate "meaningless" international friendlies.[20]

The format has been criticised as allowing weaker teams to qualify through the Nations League to compete in the European Championship finals, instead of qualifying through the standard qualification process.[21] However, only four places out of 24 are available through these playoffs.

Trophy

The UEFA Nations League trophy was unveiled during the phase draw in Lausanne, Switzerland. The trophy represents all 55 UEFA National associations and is made of sterling silver. The trophy weighs 7.5 kg and is 71 cm tall.[22]

Anthem

The official anthem of the UEFA Nations League was recorded with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, singing in Latin. It is a mix of classical and electronic music, and is played when the players are entering the field of play, in television sequences and for ceremonial purposes. The composers are Giorgio Tuinfort and Franck van der Heijden.[22][23]

Seasons

Each season of the UEFA Nations League will typically be played from September to November of an even-numbered year (league phase), and June of the following odd-numbered year (Nations League Finals of League A), meaning a UEFA Nations League champion will be crowned every two years. An exception will be made in the 2022–23 season when the league phase will be played in June and September 2022, due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup played in Qatar at the end of the year.[9][10][12]

Results of Nations League Finals
Season Host Final Third place play-off
Winner Score Runner-up Third place Score Fourth place
2018–19
Details		  Portugal
Portugal		 1–0
Netherlands
England		 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)
Switzerland
2020–21
Details		 TBD

Performances by team
Team Winners Runners-up Third place Fourth place
 Portugal 1 (2019)[upper-alpha 1]
 Netherlands 1 (2019)
 England 1 (2019)
  Switzerland 1 (2019)
  1. Host.

Team performances by season
  •  1  – Champions
  •  2  – Runners-up
  •  3  – Third place
  •  4  – Fourth place
  • – Promoted
  • – No movement
  • – Relegated
  • Q – Qualified for upcoming UEFA Nations League Finals
  •    – Host country of UEFA Nations League Finals
National team Season
2018–19 2020–21
LG RK P/NM LG RK P/NM/R
 Albania C 34 C
 Andorra D 53 D
 Armenia D 45 C
 Austria B 18 B
 Azerbaijan D 46 C
 Belarus D 43 C
 Belgium A 5 A
 Bosnia and Herzegovina B 13 A
 Bulgaria C 29 B
 Croatia A 9 A
 Cyprus C 36 C
 Czech Republic B 20 B
 Denmark B 15 A
 England A 3 A
 Estonia C 37 C
 Faroe Islands D 50 D
 Finland C 28 B
 France A 6 A
 Georgia D 40 C
 Germany A 11 A
 Gibraltar D 49 D
 Greece C 33 C
 Hungary C 31 B
 Iceland A 12 A
 Israel C 30 B
 Italy A 8 A
 Kazakhstan D 47 C
 Kosovo D 42 C
 Latvia D 51 D
 Liechtenstein D 52 D
 Lithuania C 39 C
 Luxembourg D 44 C
 Malta D 54 D
 Moldova D 48 C
 Montenegro C 35 C
 Netherlands A 2 A
 North Macedonia D 41 C
 Northern Ireland B 24 B
 Norway C 26 B
 Poland A 10 A
 Portugal A 1 A
 Republic of Ireland B 23 B
 Romania C 32 B
 Russia B 17 B
 San Marino D 55 D
 Scotland C 25 B
 Serbia C 27 B
 Slovakia B 21 B
 Slovenia C 38 C
 Spain A 7 A
 Sweden B 16 A
  Switzerland A 4 A
 Turkey B 22 B
 Ukraine B 14 A
 Wales B 19 B
gollark: 2000 offspring. At least.
gollark: You'd then need to raise 2000 or so to use them all.
gollark: Possible but impractical.
gollark: * 2048 CBs
gollark: 12G = 2048 dragons.

See also

References
  1. "UEFA Nations League receives associations' green light". UEFA.com. 27 March 2014.
  2. Rumsby, Ben (25 March 2014). "England ready to play in new Nations League as revolutionary UEFA plan earns unanimous backing". The Telegraph. The Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  3. Hojem Kvam, Lars (9 October 2013). "Hva om Ronaldo, Özil, Balotelli og Pique møtes til ligaspill – med sine landslag?". dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  4. Gibson, Owen (10 October 2013). "Uefa explores internationals shake-up with Nations League plan". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  5. "Nations League: New European tournament to be confirmed". BBC Sport. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  6. "Nations League moet nieuwe mijlpaal in Europese voetbal worden". zita.be (in Dutch). 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  7. "UEFA Nations League: all you need to know". UEFA.com. 27 March 2014.
  8. "UEFA Nations League/UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying" (PDF). UEFA.com.
  9. "UEFA Nations League format and schedule approved". UEFA.com. 4 December 2014.
  10. "UEFA Nations League format and schedule confirmed". UEFA.com. 4 December 2014.
  11. "How the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League will line up". UEFA.com. 24 September 2019.
  12. "UEFA Nations League and European Qualifiers competition format, 2018–2020" (PDF). UEFA.com.
  13. "UEFA Executive Committee agenda for Nyon meeting". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  14. Smith, Giles (2 March 2001). "Put an end to these meaningless friendlies". The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  15. Lawton, James (20 February 2018). "Friendlies do not have to be as meaningless as this". The Independent.
  16. "Do friendly matches really matter?". BBC Sport. 2 March 2006.
  17. "Clubs and Uefa agree to reduce international matches". BBC Sport. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  18. Liew, Jonathan (13 October 2017). "Abstract and absurd, Uefa's Nations League is anything but the Ctrl-Alt-Delete the international game needs".
  19. "What is the Uefa Nations League – and will it be successful?". The Guardian. 23 January 2018.
  20. "UEFA Nations League: all you need to know". UEFA. 20 August 2018.
  21. Dunbar, Graham (24 March 2017). "As World Cup hope fades, Europeans turn to Nations League". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  22. "UEFA Nations League trophy and music revealed". UEFA.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  23. "What are the lyrics to the UEFA Nations League Anthem?". UEFA.com.
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