The Nations League, introduced by UEFA in 2018, revolutionised international football in Europe as it replaced some traditional friendly matches with competitive fixtures. The structure not only enhances the quality of games but provides teams with additional routes to major tournaments such as the Euros and World Cup.
A key feature of the Nations League is its promotion and relegation system, which ensures a dynamic movement of teams between the different leagues based on their performances. This structure maintains competitiveness, offering incentives for lower-ranked teams while ensuring the top performers consistently play against strong opponents.
Below, we’re going to take a deep dive into the mechanics of the promotion and relegation in the Nations League, including the latest format introduced in 2024, its implications for national teams, and the broader effect all this has on international football.
Structure of the Nations League
The Nations League is made up of 55 UEFA member associations, divided into four leagues – A, B, C, and D – based on their UEFA national team coefficients.
Here’s the breakdown:
- League A: 16 Teams
- League B: 16 Teams
- League C: 16 Teams
- League D: 7 Teams
Each league is then divided further into groups:
- Leagues A, B, and C have four groups of four teams.
- League D has one group of four teams and one group of three teams due to the smaller number of nations.
During the league phase, teams play home-and-away round-robin format matches. These games are played from September to November in even-numbered years. This phase determines promotions, relegations, and, in League A, the qualification for the Nations League Finals.
How Promotion and Relegation Work in the Nations League
The promotion and relegation system allows teams to move between the leagues, ensuring competitiveness and a merit-based structure. Here’s how it works in full:
Automatic Promotion & Relegation
- Winners of groups B, C, and D are promoted to the league above.
- Teams that finish last in groups A and B are relegated to the league below.
- The two lowest-ranked teams in League C will battle it out in the relegation playoffs, with the losing team dropping to League D.
This system ensures constant mobility between the divisions, rewarding strong performances while demoting struggling teams to the league below, where they should become more competitive as a result.
2024/25 Introduction of Promotion & Relegation Playoffs
For the 2024/25 season, UEFA introduced a playoff system to make promotion and relegation in the Nations League even more competitive.
New Playoff Format
League A vs League B
- The third-placed team in League A will play a two-legged playoff against the runners-up from League B.
- The winner earns a place in League A for the next cycle.
- The loser will play in League B.
League B vs League C
- The third-placed team in League B will face the runners-up from League C in the playoffs.
- The winner will secure a place in League B, while the loser will play in League C.
League C vs League D
- The best-ranked team in fourth in League C will compete against the runners-up from League D.
- The winners will play in League C, and the losers will compete in League D.
These playoff matches take place over two legs – home and away. If the aggregate scores are tied, extra time and then penalties will be used to determine the winner. Away goals do not apply.
Why Promotion and Relegation Matter for Natiotion Teams in the Nations League
The promotion and relegation system isn’t solely about nations moving up or down. It has a significant impact on the national teams competing in several ways:
Competitive Balance
The Nations League ensures that teams face opponents of a similar level, reducing the number of one-sided fixtures in the competition, and this is highlighted by the odds in Nations League betting markets online.
- Higher-ranked teams face tougher opponents in League A, improving match quality.
- Lower-ranked teams in Leagues C and D get competitive opportunities rather than suffering repeated defeats against the stronger nations in the competition.
Alternative Pathways to Major Tournaments
The Nations League plays a key role in qualifying for the Euros and, indirectly, the World Cup.
- High-performing teams in the Nations League can earn playoff spots for the Euros if they fail to qualify via traditional routes.
- This provides a safety net for teams like Scotland and Hungary, who have benefitted from the Nations League in past qualifying cycles.
Financial and Commercial Implications
Teams that gain promotion to a higher league will naturally attract more sponsorship opportunities, bring in more broadcasting revenue, and increase fan engagement.
- League A teams benefit from higher levels of visibility and more lucrative matches against elite opponents.
- Relegation to a lower league can hurt a federation financially, especially smaller nations relying on the money brought in from TV deals.
Tactical Implications: How Nations Adapt to the System
The promotion and relegation model used in the Nations League forces teams to employ a different strategy from the one they’d use in traditional qualifying campaigns.
Squad Management and Rotation
- Teams prioritise stronger lineups in decisive group-stage matches, especially if promotion or relegation is a possibility.
- Rotation in games against weaker opponents are more common, with the aim being to keep top players fresh.
Defensive vs Attacking Approach
- Lower-ranked teams will usually go defensive to secure draws or narrow losses to fend off relegation.
- Promotion-chasing nations will go attacking, knowing they must be in the running to win the group to make it happen.
Impact on Managerial Decisions
- Performances and results in the Nations League have led to changes in the dugout, with Hansi Flick dismissed by Germany after a poor run.
- Some teams often use the Nations League as a testing ground for new national players or young players in advance of bigger tournaments.
How the System Has Played Out
Several teams have already benefitted or suffered from the promotion and relegation system of the Nations League.
Success Stories
- Hungary: Promoted to League A, they have transformed into a top-tier European team, defeating England and Germany, one of the favourites to win the tournament according to Nations League outright betting, in recent campaigns.
- Scotland: Earned a Euro 2024 playoff place through League B.
- Georgia: Climbed from League D to League B, improving significantly under this system.
Struggles
- England (2022/23): Relegated from League A after finishing last in a group with Italy, Germany, and Hungary.
- Iceland: Relegated from League A to League B.
Why the Nations League Promotion & Relegation Model Works
The Nations League promotion and relegation model works because it ultimately keeps international football competitive, fair, and meaningful for all European nations. By implementing the playoffs, there’s now an extra layer of competitiveness, making it more difficult for teams to secure top spots while ensuring all relegation battles are fair. As the Nations League continues to evolve, its impact on European football grows, shaping the future of international competitions and giving every nation a clear competitive pathway, whether they’re one of the renowned powerhouses or a smaller nation looking to make their mark.
