UEFA Nations League

The UEFA Nations League[1] is a biennial international association football

UEFA Nations League
competition to be contested by the senior men's national teams of the member
associations of UEFA, the sport's European governing body.

The first tournament is due to commence in September 2018, following the 2018
FIFA World Cup. The four group winners from League A will qualify for the finals,
to be played at a yet to be decided European city in June 2019. Four nations, one
from each League, will also qualify for theUEFA Euro 2020 finals.

The competition will largely replace international friendly matches currently played
on the FIFA International Match Calendar.[2]

Contents
Adoption
Format
UEFA European Championship link
FIFA World Cup link
Founded 2018
Support and criticism
Region Europe (UEFA)
Prize money
Trophy Number of teams 55

Anthem Television List of

Matchball broadcasters broadcasters
Sponsorship Website Official website
Seasons 2018–19 UEFA Nations
Results of Nations League Finals
League
Team performances by season
See also
References
External links

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 UEF [3]
A members but warned that it was only at the design stage.

The concept of the UEFA Nations League would see all 55 of UEFA's members 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 International match calendar
fect the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship.[5]
that are currently allocated for international friendlies and would not af
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] The Football Association's chairman Greg Dyke said that the proposal is "very
attractive", as England would be expected to play against top-ranking national teams.[5] Royal Belgian Football Association's general
secretary Steven Martens said that lower-ranked nations would still benefitfinancially 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
According to the approved format (prior to Kosovo becoming UEFA member),[1][7][8] the now 55 UEFA national teams (including
Kosovo) will be 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 division, four groups are formed (three or four teams in each group) and play each
other both home and away.

In the top division League A, the winners of the four groups go on to play in the Nations League Finals, with two semi-finals and one
final to decide which team becomes the UEF
A Nations League champion.

Teams can also be promoted and relegatedto a higher or lower division. Each group winner (there are four groups in each division) is
automatically promoted to the next higher division for the next tournament. Each team placing last in its group is automatically
relegated to the next lower division.

UEFA European Championship link

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

In addition to the Nations League Finals of League A, there will be four play-offs with a similar format. Each group winner takes a
spot in the semi-finals. If the group winner is already one of 20 qualified teams, rankings will be used to give the play-off spot to
another team of the 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][11]

FIFA World Cup link

The Nations League may also be linked with UEFA's future World Cup qualifications for the same purpose, possibly using the top
two divisions.[12]

Support and criticism

UEFA devised the tournament as a means to eliminate "meaningless international friendlies" - a view that has long been shared by
many football clubs and supporters with the regular football season being interrupted with unwelcome international matches as part
of the FIFA International Match Calendar.[13][14][15] In 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.[16] The aspiration to eliminate "pointless international friendlies" in
[17][18]
favour of a more competitive tournament has been welcomed by many football commentators.

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.[19]

However the format has been criticised for allegedly allowing weaker teams to qualify through the Nations League to compete in the
[20]
European Championship finals, instead of qualifying through the standard qualification process.

Prize money
A total prize money of €76,250,000 will be on offer for the inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League. The solidarity and bonus
fees will be available to all 55 national teams which will be participing in the competition, each team will receive:

€1,500,000 in League A
€1,000,000 in League B
€750,000 in League C
€500,000 in League D
The winner of each of the four groups in each of the four leagues doubles their earnings (for example each group winner in League C
receives an extra €750,000).

The first winner of the Nations League will receive an extra €4,500,000, the runner-up will receive €3,500,000, the third-placed team
[21]
will receive €2,500,000, and the fourth-placed team will receive €1,500,000.

Trophy
The UEFA Nations League trophy has been unveiled during phase draw in Lausanne, Switzerland. The trophy represents all 55
UEFA National associations and is made of sterling silver. The trophy weighs in at 7.5 kg and is 71 cm tall, will be first lifted in June
2019.[22]

Anthem
The official anthem of UEFA Nations League was recorded with a philharmonic orchestra and a choir singing in Latin. Its a mix of
classical and electronic music and will be played when the players are entering the field of play, in TV sequences and for ceremonial
purposes.[22]

Matchball
The 2018–19 UEFA Nations League ball is made by Adidas. The ball is white and silver with a colorful design elements inspired by
the official Nations League flag.[23]

Sponsorship
The official sponsors of UEFA National Team Football[24] including Nations League are:

Booking.com[25]
Hisense
Volkswagen[26]

Seasons
Each season of the UEFA Nations League will be played from September to November of an even-numbered year (pool stage), 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.[9][10][11]

Results of Nations League Finals

Final Third place play-off
Season Host Fourth
Winner Score Runner-up Third place Score
place
2018–
TBD
19

Team performances by season

Promoted
No movement
Relegated
 2018–19
Team
LG RK P/R
Albania C

Andorra D

Armenia D

Austria B

Azerbaijan D

Belarus D

Belgium A

Bosnia and Herzegovina B

Bulgaria C

Croatia A

Cyprus C

Czech Republic B

Denmark B

England A

Estonia C

Faroe Islands D

Finland C

France A

Georgia D

Germany A

Gibraltar D

Greece C

Hungary C

Iceland A

Israel C

Italy A

Kazakhstan D

Kosovo D

Latvia D

Liechtenstein D

Lithuania C

Luxembourg D

Macedonia D

Malta D

Moldova D
 Montenegro C

Netherlands A

Northern Ireland B

Norway C

Poland A

Portugal A

Republic of Ireland B

Romania C

Russia B

San Marino D

Scotland C

Serbia C

Slovakia B

Slovenia C

Spain A

Sweden B

Switzerland A

Turkey B

Ukraine B

Wales B

See also
CONCACAF Nations League– a similar biennial competition for nations in theCONCACAF confederation
ICC Cricket World Test Championship – a similar biennial competition incricket, consisting of a round robintest
matches followed by a play-off final

References
1. "UEFA Nations League receives associations'green light" (https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/organisation/
congress/news/newsid=2079556.html). UEFA.com. 27 March 2014.
2. Rumsby, Ben (25 March 2014)."England ready to play in new Nations League as revolutionary UEF A plan earns
unanimous backing" (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10722834/England-ready-to-play-in-n
ew-Nations-League-as-revolutionary-Uefa-plan-earns-unanimous-backing.html) . 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?" (http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/10/09/sport/landslaget/fotball/vm-kvalifisering/uefa/29672200/)(in
Norwegian). dagbladet.no. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
4. Gibson, Owen (10 October 2013)."Uefa explores internationals shake-up with Nations League plan"(https://www.th
eguardian.com/football/2013/oct/10/uefa-internationals-nations-league-friendlies)
. TheGuardian.com. Retrieved
26 March 2014.
5. "Nations League: New European tournament to be confirmed"(https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26747394).
BBC Sport. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
 6. "Nations League moet nieuwe mijlpaal in Europese voetbal worden"(http://www.zita.be/nieuws/sport/3229527_natio
ns-league-moet-nieuwe-mijlpaal-in-europese-voetbal-worden.html)(in Dutch). zita.be. 26 March 2014. Retrieved
26 March 2014.
7. "UEFA Nations League: all you need to know" (https://www.uefa.com/community/news/newsid=2079553.html).
UEFA.com. 27 March 2014.
8. "UEFA Nations League/UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying"(https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competition
s/General/02/08/20/36/2082036_DOWNLOAD.pdf)(PDF). UEFA.com.
9. "UEFA Nations League format and scheduleapproved" (https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=2191264.htm
l). UEFA.com. 4 December 2014.
10. "UEFA Nations League format and scheduleconfirmed" (https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediarelea
ses/newsid=2191279.html). UEFA.com. 4 December 2014.
11. "UEFA Nations League and European Qualifiers competition format, 2018–2020"(https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaF
iles/Download/uefaorg/ExecutiveCommittee/02/19/12/61/2191261_DOWNLOAD.pdf) (PDF). UEFA.com.
12. "UEFA's new 'League of Nations' – Do you understand it?" (http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/27/sport/football/football-n
ations-league/index.html). CNN. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
13. Smith, Giles (2 March 2001)."Put an end to these meaningless friendlies"(https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal
l/teams/england/2999941/Put-an-end-to-these-meaningless-friendlies.html) . The Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
14. Lawton, James (20 February 2018)."Friendlies do not have to be as meaningless as this"(https://www.independent.
co.uk/sport/football/international/friendlies-do-not-have-to-be-as-meaningless-as-this-70111.html)
. The Independent.
15. "Do friendly matches really matter?"(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4766414.stm)
. BBC Sport. 2
March 2006.
16. "Clubs and Uefa agree to reduce international matches"(https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17191931). BBC Sport.
28 February 2012. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
17. Liew, Jonathan (13 October 2017)."Abstract and absurd, Uefa's Nations League is anything but the Ctrl-Alt-Delete
the international game needs"(https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/uefa-nations-league-euro-2
020-looks-set-to-compound-the-international-game-a7997826.html) .
18. "What is the Uefa Nations League – and will it be successful?"(https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/23/uef
a-nations-league-draw-england-scotland-wales) . The Guardian. 23 January 2018.
19. "UEFA Nations League: all you need to know" (https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/newsid=2079553.htm
l). UEFA. 20 August 2018.
20. Dunbar, Graham (24 March 2017)."As World Cup hope fades, Europeans turn toNations League" (https://www.usat
oday.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/03/24/as-world-cup-hope-fades-europeans-turn-to-nations-league/99575410/)
.
USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
21. "UEFA Nations League gets $94 million prizefund for 55 teams" (https://apnews.com/fa77bd1180c34027bc418c121
2c44e4e). AP News. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
22. "UEFA Nations League trophy and music revealed" (https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/newsid=253017
9.html). UEFA.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
23. "UEFA Nations League ball leaked"(https://www.footyheadlines.com/2018/07/adidas-uefa-nations-league-ball.html?
m=1). Footy headlines. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
24. "UEFA Nations League" (https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/index.html). Retrieved 30 August 2018.
25. "Booking.com Signs Global Deal with UEF A National Team Football as Official Accommodation and Attractions
Booking Partner" (https://globalnews.booking.com/bookingcom-signs-global-deal-with-uefa-national-team-football-as
-official-accommodation-and-attractions-booking-partner/). Booking.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
26. "Volkswagen becomes new UEFA national team football competitions partner"(https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/abo
ut-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=2489300.html)
. UEFA.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.

External links
Official website

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A_Nations_League&oldid=858136882"
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