What is the UEFA Nations League?

WINDHOEK, SEPT. 5 – The UEFA Nations League is a competition that will be played biannually, featuring all 55 UEFA member associations divided into four leagues; League A, B, C and D. Grouping of the teams into leagues is according to their rank in the UEFA rankings to ensure that they are evenly matched.

League A is made up of the top 12 ranked nations. The 12 are subdivided into four groups of three.

League B is made up of nations ranked from number 13 to 24 and they are also subdivided into four groups of three.

League C consists of the nations ranked from number 25 to 39. This league is also divided into four groups. However, three of the groups have four teams each whilst the fourth group has three teams.

League D is made up of the 16 teams ranked from number 40 to 55. This league is subdivided into four groups of four.

The tournament’s champions will emerge from League A. The four group winners will from this league will contest the semi-finals, third-place playoff and the final, all to be played in June next year. Nations finishing at the bottom of their groups in this league are relegated to League B.

League B group winners gain promotion to League A whilst the four nations finishing at the bottom of their groups are relegated to League C. The same scenario applies to League C with group winners gaining promotion to League B and the last place finishers getting relegated to League D.

No team gets relegated in League D but group winners do gain promotion to League C.

A second chance to qualify for Euro 2020 is another element that will ensure that the tournament is competitive.

Should the 16 Nations League group winners or the next best placed teams fail to qualify for Euro 2020 during the qualification campaign scheduled to start in March next year, progress to a playoff to compete for the final four Euro 2020 spots.

Nations League group matches will be played on a home and away basis in the months of September, October and November 2018. – info@namibiadailynews.info