Uefa says the introduction of quarter-finals and promotion play-offs to a revised Nations League will make it a “extra compelling” competitors.
The brand new expanded format will start in September 2024.
There’ll nonetheless be teams of 4 however, for the 16 highest-ranked League A groups, the highest two will qualify for a two-legged quarter-final in March 2025, with group winners dealing with runners-up.
The winners of these matches will go into the ‘Last 4’ in June 2025.
As with the present format, the facet ending fourth of their League A gaggle might be relegated.
However a facet ending third will go right into a promotion play-off with a facet ending second in League B, and in addition held over two legs.
Scotland have been promoted to League A for the 2024-25 occasion, with England relegated to League B alongside Wales, and Northern Eire are in League C.
“This makes the Nations League a extra compelling competitors, with extra attention-grabbing and engaging knockout matches, ” stated Uefa deputy basic secretary Giorgio Marchetti.
The revised format will set off modifications to the qualification system for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Euros.
As a substitute of 10 qualification teams at current, there might be 12, six with 5 groups and 6 with 4.
Nations who attain the ‘Last 4’ might be positioned in a four-team group as their qualification programme can not start till September 2025.
The precise qualification course of will start in March 2025, however solely with five-team teams and solely with nations not nonetheless concerned within the Nations League.
Uefa says the modifications could have no influence on the present worldwide calendar and would match any alterations world governing physique Fifa makes to it.
Nevertheless, that solely applies if Fifa honours the variety of dates at present out there to European soccer’s governing physique.
The Nations League was launched in 2018 and has up to now been received by Portugal and France.
