The UEFA Nations League returns this month, as Portugal, France, and Spain bid to become the first two-time winners of the nascent competition and the rest of League A hope to become a first-time champion.
[ MORE: How will USMNT line up versus Canada? ]
Everyone else is looking to move on up, and that includes League B new boys England and League C new boys Sweden. Yep, big-name nations with big-name players like Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski can now say they’ve tasted relegation.
Here are all the questions you might have, plus the schedules and standings, as the UNL hits our screens in September.
How does the UEFA Nations League work?
The UEFA Nations League involves all 55 member associations of UEFA split up into four “Leagues” — League A, League B, League C, and League D.
Leagues A through C boast 16 teams each, divided into groups of four. League D has six teams divided into two groups of three.
The last-place team from each group in Leagues A, B, and C are automatically relegated to a lower league for the next tournament, while the third-placed teams in each League A and B group play a runner-up from a group below them in a playoff for the right to stay or advance to the higher league.
League D’s two runners-up play the two best League C fourth-place teams for the remaining spots in Group C.
UEFA Nations League finals, winners
2018-19: Portugal def. Netherlands in Portugal, 1-0
2020-21: France def. Spain in Italy, 2-1
2022-23: Spain def. Croatia in the Netherlands, 0-0 aet (5-4 pens)
2024-25 UEFA Nations League primer: Where is England?
England, perhaps shockingly, managed just three points from Group A3 in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League, losing twice to Hungary and once to Italy while twice drawing Germany and once sharing points with the Italians.
The Three Lions are the heavy favorites to win Group B2 in the 2024-25 tournament, as they’ll play home and away against Finland, Greece, and Republic of Ireland.
A less-publicized shocker was Sweden falling out of Group B, relegated from a tough Group B4 with Serbia, Norway, and Slovenia in 2022-23.
2024-25 UEFA Nations League Group A fixtures, results
September 5, 2024
Portugal vs Croatia
Scotland vs Poland
Denmark vs Switzerland
Serbia vs Spain
September 6, 2024
Belgium vs Israel
France vs Italy
September 7, 2024
Germany vs Hungary
Netherlands vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
September 8, 2024
Croatia vs Poland
Portugal vs Scotland
Denmark vs Serbia
Switzerland vs Spain
September 9, 2024
France vs Belgium
Israel vs Italy
October 10, 2024
Israel vs France
Italy vs Belgium
October 11, 2024
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Germany
Hungary vs Netherlands
October 12, 2024
Croatia vs Scotland
Poland vs Portugal
Serbia vs Switzerland
Spain vs Denmark
October 14, 2024
Belgium vs France
Italy vs Israel
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Hungary
Germany vs Netherlands
October 15, 2024
Poland vs Croatia
Scotland vs Portugal
Spain vs Serbia
Switzerland vs Denmark
November 14, 2024
Belgium vs Italy
France vs Israel
November 15, 2024
Portugal vs Poland
Scotland vs Croatia
Denmark vs Spain
Switzerland vs Serbia
November 16, 2024
Germany vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Netherlands vs Hungary
November 17, 2024
Israel v Belgium
Italy vs France
November 18, 2024
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Netherlands
Hungary vs Germany
Serbia vs Denmark
Spain vs Switzerland
November 19, 2024
Croatia vs Portugal
Poland vs Scotland
2024-25 UEFA Nations League Group A tables
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
2024-25 UEFA Nations League knockout round dates
Quarterfinals — March 20 & 25
Four group runners-up vs Four group winners (Draw Nov. 22)
Semifinals — June 4 & 5
Quarterfinals winners
