UEFA has formally confirmed a sweeping overhaul to the UEFA Nations League that will be introduced starting with the 2028/29 edition of the competition.
What UEFA has approved for 2028/29
The governing body’s newly sanctioned format will mark a departure from the current arrangement built around four separate leagues. Instead, the Nations League will be reorganised into three leagues, each consisting of 18 teams.
UEFA says the redesign is intended to make match-ups more challenging and to raise the overall intensity of games across European national teams.
How the group stage will work
Under the revised structure, teams will be sorted into groups of six for the league phase. Each national team will play six matches against different opponents during this stage.
UEFA believes the change will deliver greater variety in fixtures while preserving the competitive balance that has helped underpin the Nations League’s success since it began in 2018.
League C adjusted for the number of associations
- Because UEFA has 55 member associations, League C will be made up of one group containing seven teams to account for the uneven number of participating nations.
Knockout and ranking games stay the same
UEFA stressed that, despite the changes to the league structure, the knockout elements of the tournament will not be altered.
- The quarter-finals will continue under the existing format.
- The Final Four tournament will remain unchanged.
- Promotion and relegation play-offs will also continue as they are currently set up.
Why UEFA is making the change
UEFA originally launched the Nations League to replace international friendlies with contests that carry more meaning and competitive weight. The latest adjustment is presented as another step in the competition’s ongoing evolution within European international football.
