UEFA has unveiled a radical shake-up of its national team competitions, with the Nations League set to shed a tier while qualifying for both the European Championship and World Cup becomes seamlessly intertwined. The changes, approved by the governing body’s executive committee in Istanbul, will take effect from 2028 and promise to inject fresh intensity into international football.
The new Nations League structure reduces the current four levels to just three leagues, each containing 18 teams. Within these leagues, the group phase will consist of three groups of six, but with a twist: every nation will play six matches instead of round-robin, facing four opponents in a single match and one on a home-and-away basis. The format still culminates in quarter-finals, a final four, and promotion/relegation play-offs, mirroring the drama of club competition knockouts.
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA’s president, was quick to emphasise the benefits. “The new formulas will improve competitive balance, reduce meaningless games, and offer more appeal and dynamism for fans,” he said, adding that all teams retain a fair shot at qualification without clogging the international calendar. This direct address echoes long-standing criticism that early qualification stages often feature one-sided or dead-rubber encounters.
Since its inception in 2018, the Nations League has been a hit for broadcasters and fans, turning friendlies into competitive fixtures and creating a pathway to the Euros for smaller nations. But the current four-tier system, with groups of varying sizes, created complexity and left some matches lacking stakes. By streamlining to three leagues of equal size, UEFA hopes to tighten the competition and make every game count from the first whistle.
The most transformative change, however, lies in how teams will reach major tournaments. Qualifying for the Euros and World Cup will now be run as two parallel “championships” directly linked to Nations League division. The top tier, labelled League 1, will house the 36 teams from Leagues A and B of the Nations League, while League 2 will consist of the remaining 18 or 19 sides – with a potential re-admission of Russia, banned since 2022, creating a 19-team scenario.
League 1 will be split into three groups of 12, drawn from three seeding pots, and each side will contest six matches against six different opponents – two from each pot. This mirrors the structure familiar from club competitions like the Champions League, condensing drama into a compact window. League 2 will mirror the existing Nations League C, with three groups and a similar format, ensuring a unified experience across the pyramid.
The payoff is clear: the best-placed teams in each League 1 group will seal direct spots at the Euros or World Cup finals. Remaining tickets will be fought for via play-offs, with teams from League 2 still able to gatecrash the party through those same knockout routes. It’s a system that rewards performance in the Nations League while preserving the dream of qualification for lower-ranked nations.
For top sides, the changes mean fewer but higher-stakes qualifiers. Instead of campaigning through cumbersome round-robin groups of five or six teams, they will face a streamlined schedule that demands intensity from match one. Lower-tier nations get amplified exposure and the chance to regularly test themselves against stronger opposition, potentially closing the gap over time.
Critics may argue that linking qualifying so explicitly to the Nations League could entrench hierarchies, but UEFA insists the structure maintains mobility. Promotion and relegation between Nations League tiers will remain, meaning strong campaigns can still elevate a team’s qualifying path for the next cycle. The final format will be rubber-stamped in September, with stakeholders across the continent awaiting the fine print.
From a commercial and fan perspective, the condensed schedule could prove a masterstroke. National team windows are already squeezed, and Ceferin’s promise of “no extra matchdays” addresses a key concern for clubs and players. More meaningful games per window translates to better stories, sharper rivalry, and ultimately a more engaging product for broadcasters and supporters.
The road to 2028 is nonetheless long, and questions remain over how smoothly the transition can be managed, particularly regarding Russia’s potential return and the rebalancing of competitive tiers. But one thing is certain: when the new system kicks in, the line between the Nations League and tournament qualifying will blur into a single, season-long narrative.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.