Introduction to the UEFA Nations League 2019
The UEFA Nations League made its debut in the 2018‑2019 season, bringing a fresh competitive calendar to European national teams. Instead of friendly matches that often lack intensity, the tournament introduced promotion and relegation between leagues, a structured knockout finals, and a clear path to qualification for the UEFA European Championship. The competition was designed to increase the relevance of international football throughout the year and to give smaller nations more meaningful matches against peers of similar strength.
Format and Participating Teams
All 55 UEFA member associations were divided into four Leagues—League A, League B, League C, and League D—based on their ranking. League A contained the strongest teams, while League D housed the lowest‑ranked sides. Each league was split into groups of three or four teams, with home‑and‑away fixtures determining the group winners and runners‑up. The winners of each group in League A advanced to the final tournament, held in June 2021, while the other leagues followed a similar promotion‑relegation model.
- League A groups: each team plays six matches.
- League B groups: also six matches per team.
- League C groups: six matches per team.
- League D groups: four matches per team.
This structure ensured that every nation had a clear objective: either to earn promotion, secure a place in the finals, or avoid relegation.
