UEFA Nations League 2024-25

[amenina]

@amenina the regulations are now out! https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulation ... tem-Online

Interestingly the League C RPO are abolished.

Equally interesting is that the A/B and B/C P/R matches are in March 2025 with the C/D matches in March 2026. Weird.

Additionally they've adapted the stupid system used in WNL where the host of each SF is drawn and not a certralised host.
Probably makes more money as more local interest but also unfair - if they're gunna have a host for each match at least seed it 1v4 and 2v3 like NL PO for Euro repêchage slots.

No, the finals are still hosted by a centralized host.

17.04
The semi-finals, third-place match and the final are played in single-leg knockout matches at a venue designated by the UEFA Executive Committee.

17.05
The semi-final pairings are drawn between the quarter-final winners. Draw conditions may be applied, subject to approval by the UEFA Executive Committee.

17.06
For scheduling purposes, if a host association team is participating in the semi-finals, its semi-final match is declared semi-final 1 and the host association is considered to be the home team of that match.

[amenina]

@amenina the regulations are now out! https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulation ... tem-Online

Interestingly the League C RPO are abolished.

Equally interesting is that the A/B and B/C P/R matches are in March 2025 with the C/D matches in March 2026. Weird.

Additionally they've adapted the stupid system used in WNL where the host of each SF is drawn and not a certralised host.
Probably makes more money as more local interest but also unfair - if they're gunna have a host for each match at least seed it 1v4 and 2v3 like NL PO for Euro repêchage slots.

16.05

If any of the teams due to participate in the League C/D play-offs qualifies for the European Qualifier play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in March 2026, the League C/D play-offs are not played. The two teams ranked 46th and 47th in the interim overall UEFA Nations League rankings (see Article 19) remain in League C for the next edition of the competition, and the two teams ranked 50th and 51st remain in League D.

Note: There are typos in this article, it should have been "The two teams ranked 47th and 48th in the interim overall UEFA Nations League rankings (see Article 19) remain in League C for the next edition of the competition, and the two teams ranked 51st and 52nd remain in League D."

The idea here is that since it is unlikely these teams will qualify for the WCQ play-offs, they will play the Leagues C/D promotion/relegation play-offs in the window of March 2026, so that they are available to play in WCQ group stage matches in March 2025.

So 24 teams (8 in League A QF, 8 in Leagues A/B promotion/relegation play-offs, 8 in Leagues B/C promotion/relegation play-offs) will not be available in March 2025 to play WCQ, while the other 30 teams will be available in March 2025 to play WCQ.

[Jackson Harrison]

@amenina the regulations are now out! https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulation ... tem-Online

Interestingly the League C RPO are abolished.

Equally interesting is that the A/B and B/C P/R matches are in March 2025 with the C/D matches in March 2026. Weird.

Additionally they've adapted the stupid system used in WNL where the host of each SF is drawn and not a certralised host.
Probably makes more money as more local interest but also unfair - if they're gunna have a host for each match at least seed it 1v4 and 2v3 like NL PO for Euro repêchage slots.

No, the finals are still hosted by a centralized host.

17.04
The semi-finals, third-place match and the final are played in single-leg knockout matches at a venue designated by the UEFA Executive Committee.

17.05
The semi-final pairings are drawn between the quarter-final winners. Draw conditions may be applied, subject to approval by the UEFA Executive Committee.

17.06
For scheduling purposes, if a host association team is participating in the semi-finals, its semi-final match is declared semi-final 1 and the host association is considered to be the home team of that match.

Sorry misread the bit about draw. Was in arush on my break.

[TommyChat]

There is a hint that the 2026 WC will start on June 10th, although it's mentioned that it is subject to confirmation by FIFA

[amenina]

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/documen ... r-letters/

UEFA Circular Letter No64: UEFA Nations League 2024/25 – competition regulations, entry form, league phase fixture list and venue announcement deadlines

UEFA Nations League 2022/23 – relegation play-outs

Thursday, 21 March 2024 at 20:45 CET (20:45 local): Gibraltar v Lithuania
Tuesday, 26 March 2024 at 18:00 CET (19:00 local): Lithuania v Gibraltar

[Lorric]

.

[perica]

In regulations document there is incosistence about overall rankings. Interim ranking is clear and it is calculated after league phase.
Article 19.05 states:

The final overall 2024/25 UEFA Nations League rankings are established based on the results of the knockout stage and the play-offs. Teams within each of the groups listed below are ranked based on their position in the 2024/25 interim overall UEFA Nations League rankings (see Annex D).

The four winners of the quarter-finals are ranked 1st to 4th, until the finals have been completed (see Paragraph 19.06).

The four defeated teams of the quarter-finals will be ranked 5th to 8th.

The four teams directly promoted from League B to League A and the four winners of the League A/B play-offs will be ranked 9th to 16th.

The four teams directly relegated from League A to League B and the four defeated teams of the League A/B play-offs will be ranked 17th to 24th.

The four teams directly promoted from League C to League B and the four winners of the League B/C play-offs will be ranked 25th to 32nd.

The four teams directly relegated from League B to League C and the four defeated teams of the League B/C play-offs will be ranked 33rd to 40th.

The four teams in ranks 41 to 44 remain ranked 41st to 44th.

The two teams directly promoted from League D to League C and the two winners of the League C/D play-offs will be ranked 45th to 48th.

The two teams directly relegated from League C to League D and the two defeated teams of the League C/D play-offs will be ranked 49th to 52nd.

The two teams in ranks 53 and 54 remain ranked 53rd and 54th.

That means that group winners from a league are going to be ranked higher over relegated teams from a higher league.

But Annex D states only League A participants will be ranked 9-16, League B participants 17-32 etc. However, as already mentioned Anex D already contains mistakes, including League C ranking 33-47 (should be 48) and League D 48-54 (should be 49-54), and interim ranking simulates i.e winner of group A to finish as 7nd placed team. It is possible for overall ranking if they lose a quarter-final match, but not for interim one.

[Shing]

If UEFA used this way to determine the overall rankings in the previous edition, England's ranking would change from 15 to 19 lol

[Shing]

In regulations document there is incosistence about overall rankings. Interim ranking is clear and it is calculated after league phase.
Article 19.05 states:

The final overall 2024/25 UEFA Nations League rankings are established based on the results of the knockout stage and the play-offs. Teams within each of the groups listed below are ranked based on their position in the 2024/25 interim overall UEFA Nations League rankings (see Annex D).

The four winners of the quarter-finals are ranked 1st to 4th, until the finals have been completed (see Paragraph 19.06).

The four defeated teams of the quarter-finals will be ranked 5th to 8th.

The four teams directly promoted from League B to League A and the four winners of the League A/B play-offs will be ranked 9th to 16th.

The four teams directly relegated from League A to League B and the four defeated teams of the League A/B play-offs will be ranked 17th to 24th.

The four teams directly promoted from League C to League B and the four winners of the League B/C play-offs will be ranked 25th to 32nd.

The four teams directly relegated from League B to League C and the four defeated teams of the League B/C play-offs will be ranked 33rd to 40th.

The four teams in ranks 41 to 44 remain ranked 41st to 44th.

The two teams directly promoted from League D to League C and the two winners of the League C/D play-offs will be ranked 45th to 48th.

The two teams directly relegated from League C to League D and the two defeated teams of the League C/D play-offs will be ranked 49th to 52nd.

The two teams in ranks 53 and 54 remain ranked 53rd and 54th.

That means that group winners from a league are going to be ranked higher over relegated teams from a higher league.

But Annex D states only League A participants will be ranked 9-16, League B participants 17-32 etc. However, as already mentioned Anex D already contains mistakes, including League C ranking 33-47 (should be 48) and League D 48-54 (should be 49-54), and interim ranking simulates i.e winner of group A to finish as 7nd placed team. It is possible for overall ranking if they lose a quarter-final match, but not for interim one.

https://documents.uefa.com/api/khub/map ... 4043953569
"in view of the next UNL edition"

I think Annex D means League A participants in the next edition will be ranked 9-16

[perica]

So actually that means if in A/B playooff i.e. two matches are won by 3rd placed League A teams and 2 matches are won by League B runners-up, then final overall ranking will place playoff winners who will remain in League A at positions 9 and 10, then promoted League B group winners will be placed 11-14, and promoted League B runners-up (other two playoff winners) will be placed 15-16. And such ranking will ne used as access list/seeding for the next edition?

[Shing]

So actually that means if in A/B playooff i.e. two matches are won by 3rd placed League A teams and 2 matches are won by League B runners-up, then final overall ranking will place playoff winners who will remain in League A at positions 9 and 10, then promoted League B group winners will be placed 11-14, and promoted League B runners-up (other two playoff winners) will be placed 15-16. And such ranking will ne used as access list/seeding for the next edition?

I think so. Not really clearly stated in the regulations, but cannot see other possibilities

[amenina]

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/documen ... r-letters/

UEFA Circular Letter No3: UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 – invitation to bid

(Note: It is in a zip file, so you can download the zip file to view the pdf, alternatively I have put the contents here)

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are pleased to invite all UEFA member associations to bid to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) 2024/25 in June 2025. As for the previous three editions, the hosting shall in principle be awarded to one of the teams participating in the Finals.

The UNL finalists will only be known at the end of March 2025, after the quarter-finals. The revised bidding process, approved by the National Team Competitions Committee, is as follows:

• All national associations (NAs) participating in League A that can meet the stadium requirements must submit a proposal to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25.

• After completion of the UNL league phase and the quarter-finals draw, the UEFA Executive Committee will designate one pair of quarter-finalists, capable of hosting the event, with the winner becoming automatically the host of the Finals.

• NAs interested in organising the UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 as a neutral host are also allowed to submit a proposal. Their bid would be taken into account, should no quarter-finalists’ pair offer sufficient guarantees or satisfy the requirements.

The fourth edition of the UNL finals will be held on 4-8 June 2025 and we ask all interested associations to complete, sign and return the attached Declaration of interest form by 15 May 2024 12:00 CET. This first phase of the bidding is not binding but will allow UEFA to support the associations in defining their bid and in selecting suitable venues.

The timeline is the following:

15 May 2024 12:00 CET
Deadline for associations to confirm their interest in bidding and to indicate their preferred stadiums including the expected stadium rental fees

04 September 2024
Bid requirements are made available to the bidders

23 October 2024
Submission of legal terms confirmation, hotel reservation forms and stadium operation expenditure

16 December 2024
Appointment of the quarter-finalists’ pair designated to host the finals (or the neutral bidder) by the UEFA Executive Committee

March 2025
Legal documentations (agreements, guarantees and confirmation letters) and event implementation budget are finalised

The key organisational elements of the UNL Finals are:
• Participating teams: the 4 winners of the League A quarter-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League
• Number of matches: 4 (two semi-finals, one 3rd-place match and one final)
• Match dates:
o Semi-finals on 4-5 June 2025 (fixtures decided by draw)
o 3rd-place match and final on 8 June 2025

The key requirements to host the Finals are:
• Number of stadiums: 2
• Stadium characteristics:
o UEFA Category 4;
o at least 30,000 gross seating capacity, a degree of flexibility may apply to the second stadium;
o the distance between both stadiums should ideally not exceed 150 km (or 120 minutes bus drive);
o if the Finals are hosted by a participating team, the larger stadium should host the first semi-final with the host team and the final, while the smaller stadium should be suitable for the second semi-final and the 3rd-place match.

The bidding process is governed by the Bid Regulations for UEFA Finals and Final Phases (ed. December 2021), which are available on UEFA Documents.

For any questions regarding the bidding process please contact the UEFA bidding team under Bid_UNL_2025@uefa.ch.

Yours faithfully,
UEFA
Theodore Theodoridis
General Secretary

[Jackson Harrison]

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/documen ... r-letters/

UEFA Circular Letter No3: UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 – invitation to bid

(Note: It is in a zip file, so you can download the zip file to view the pdf, alternatively I have put the contents here)

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are pleased to invite all UEFA member associations to bid to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) 2024/25 in June 2025. As for the previous three editions, the hosting shall in principle be awarded to one of the teams participating in the Finals.

The UNL finalists will only be known at the end of March 2025, after the quarter-finals. The revised bidding process, approved by the National Team Competitions Committee, is as follows:

• All national associations (NAs) participating in League A that can meet the stadium requirements must submit a proposal to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25.

• After completion of the UNL league phase and the quarter-finals draw, the UEFA Executive Committee will designate one pair of quarter-finalists, capable of hosting the event, with the winner becoming automatically the host of the Finals.

• NAs interested in organising the UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 as a neutral host are also allowed to submit a proposal. Their bid would be taken into account, should no quarter-finalists’ pair offer sufficient guarantees or satisfy the requirements.

The fourth edition of the UNL finals will be held on 4-8 June 2025 and we ask all interested associations to complete, sign and return the attached Declaration of interest form by 15 May 2024 12:00 CET. This first phase of the bidding is not binding but will allow UEFA to support the associations in defining their bid and in selecting suitable venues.

The timeline is the following:

15 May 2024 12:00 CET
Deadline for associations to confirm their interest in bidding and to indicate their preferred stadiums including the expected stadium rental fees

04 September 2024
Bid requirements are made available to the bidders

23 October 2024
Submission of legal terms confirmation, hotel reservation forms and stadium operation expenditure

16 December 2024
Appointment of the quarter-finalists’ pair designated to host the finals (or the neutral bidder) by the UEFA Executive Committee

March 2025
Legal documentations (agreements, guarantees and confirmation letters) and event implementation budget are finalised

The key organisational elements of the UNL Finals are:
• Participating teams: the 4 winners of the League A quarter-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League
• Number of matches: 4 (two semi-finals, one 3rd-place match and one final)
• Match dates:
o Semi-finals on 4-5 June 2025 (fixtures decided by draw)
o 3rd-place match and final on 8 June 2025

The key requirements to host the Finals are:
• Number of stadiums: 2
• Stadium characteristics:
o UEFA Category 4;
o at least 30,000 gross seating capacity, a degree of flexibility may apply to the second stadium;
o the distance between both stadiums should ideally not exceed 150 km (or 120 minutes bus drive);
o if the Finals are hosted by a participating team, the larger stadium should host the first semi-final with the host team and the final, while the smaller stadium should be suitable for the second semi-final and the 3rd-place match.

The bidding process is governed by the Bid Regulations for UEFA Finals and Final Phases (ed. December 2021), which are available on UEFA Documents.

For any questions regarding the bidding process please contact the UEFA bidding team under Bid_UNL_2025@uefa.ch.

Yours faithfully,
UEFA
Theodore Theodoridis
General Secretary

That's old news!

So Scotland for example have to bid as they have 2 large enough even if they don't want to host?

[amenina]

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/documen ... r-letters/

UEFA Circular Letter No3: UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 – invitation to bid

(Note: It is in a zip file, so you can download the zip file to view the pdf, alternatively I have put the contents here)

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are pleased to invite all UEFA member associations to bid to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) 2024/25 in June 2025. As for the previous three editions, the hosting shall in principle be awarded to one of the teams participating in the Finals.

The UNL finalists will only be known at the end of March 2025, after the quarter-finals. The revised bidding process, approved by the National Team Competitions Committee, is as follows:

• All national associations (NAs) participating in League A that can meet the stadium requirements must submit a proposal to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25.

• After completion of the UNL league phase and the quarter-finals draw, the UEFA Executive Committee will designate one pair of quarter-finalists, capable of hosting the event, with the winner becoming automatically the host of the Finals.

• NAs interested in organising the UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 as a neutral host are also allowed to submit a proposal. Their bid would be taken into account, should no quarter-finalists’ pair offer sufficient guarantees or satisfy the requirements.

The fourth edition of the UNL finals will be held on 4-8 June 2025 and we ask all interested associations to complete, sign and return the attached Declaration of interest form by 15 May 2024 12:00 CET. This first phase of the bidding is not binding but will allow UEFA to support the associations in defining their bid and in selecting suitable venues.

The timeline is the following:

15 May 2024 12:00 CET
Deadline for associations to confirm their interest in bidding and to indicate their preferred stadiums including the expected stadium rental fees

04 September 2024
Bid requirements are made available to the bidders

23 October 2024
Submission of legal terms confirmation, hotel reservation forms and stadium operation expenditure

16 December 2024
Appointment of the quarter-finalists’ pair designated to host the finals (or the neutral bidder) by the UEFA Executive Committee

March 2025
Legal documentations (agreements, guarantees and confirmation letters) and event implementation budget are finalised

The key organisational elements of the UNL Finals are:
• Participating teams: the 4 winners of the League A quarter-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League
• Number of matches: 4 (two semi-finals, one 3rd-place match and one final)
• Match dates:
o Semi-finals on 4-5 June 2025 (fixtures decided by draw)
o 3rd-place match and final on 8 June 2025

The key requirements to host the Finals are:
• Number of stadiums: 2
• Stadium characteristics:
o UEFA Category 4;
o at least 30,000 gross seating capacity, a degree of flexibility may apply to the second stadium;
o the distance between both stadiums should ideally not exceed 150 km (or 120 minutes bus drive);
o if the Finals are hosted by a participating team, the larger stadium should host the first semi-final with the host team and the final, while the smaller stadium should be suitable for the second semi-final and the 3rd-place match.

The bidding process is governed by the Bid Regulations for UEFA Finals and Final Phases (ed. December 2021), which are available on UEFA Documents.

For any questions regarding the bidding process please contact the UEFA bidding team under Bid_UNL_2025@uefa.ch.

Yours faithfully,
UEFA
Theodore Theodoridis
General Secretary

That's old news!

So Scotland for example have to bid as they have 2 large enough even if they don't want to host?

Of course an association do not have to bid even if they satisfy the requirements. It is up to them whether they are interested to host.

From what I read, I think the UEFA process is:

- After the quarter-final draw, if there is at least one quarter-final tie where both teams are capable of hosting, UEFA will award the hosting rights to one of these pairs, so whoever wins the tie will host.

- If there is no quarter-final tie that satisfy the above requirements, then UEFA will designate an association to host, no matter whether they eventually qualify for the finals themselves; so if they do not qualify, they will act as neutral hosts.

[Jackson Harrison]

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/documen ... r-letters/

UEFA Circular Letter No3: UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 – invitation to bid

(Note: It is in a zip file, so you can download the zip file to view the pdf, alternatively I have put the contents here)

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are pleased to invite all UEFA member associations to bid to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) 2024/25 in June 2025. As for the previous three editions, the hosting shall in principle be awarded to one of the teams participating in the Finals.

The UNL finalists will only be known at the end of March 2025, after the quarter-finals. The revised bidding process, approved by the National Team Competitions Committee, is as follows:

• All national associations (NAs) participating in League A that can meet the stadium requirements must submit a proposal to host the Finals of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25.

• After completion of the UNL league phase and the quarter-finals draw, the UEFA Executive Committee will designate one pair of quarter-finalists, capable of hosting the event, with the winner becoming automatically the host of the Finals.

• NAs interested in organising the UEFA Nations League Finals 2025 as a neutral host are also allowed to submit a proposal. Their bid would be taken into account, should no quarter-finalists’ pair offer sufficient guarantees or satisfy the requirements.

The fourth edition of the UNL finals will be held on 4-8 June 2025 and we ask all interested associations to complete, sign and return the attached Declaration of interest form by 15 May 2024 12:00 CET. This first phase of the bidding is not binding but will allow UEFA to support the associations in defining their bid and in selecting suitable venues.

The timeline is the following:

15 May 2024 12:00 CET
Deadline for associations to confirm their interest in bidding and to indicate their preferred stadiums including the expected stadium rental fees

04 September 2024
Bid requirements are made available to the bidders

23 October 2024
Submission of legal terms confirmation, hotel reservation forms and stadium operation expenditure

16 December 2024
Appointment of the quarter-finalists’ pair designated to host the finals (or the neutral bidder) by the UEFA Executive Committee

March 2025
Legal documentations (agreements, guarantees and confirmation letters) and event implementation budget are finalised

The key organisational elements of the UNL Finals are:
• Participating teams: the 4 winners of the League A quarter-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League
• Number of matches: 4 (two semi-finals, one 3rd-place match and one final)
• Match dates:
o Semi-finals on 4-5 June 2025 (fixtures decided by draw)
o 3rd-place match and final on 8 June 2025

The key requirements to host the Finals are:
• Number of stadiums: 2
• Stadium characteristics:
o UEFA Category 4;
o at least 30,000 gross seating capacity, a degree of flexibility may apply to the second stadium;
o the distance between both stadiums should ideally not exceed 150 km (or 120 minutes bus drive);
o if the Finals are hosted by a participating team, the larger stadium should host the first semi-final with the host team and the final, while the smaller stadium should be suitable for the second semi-final and the 3rd-place match.

The bidding process is governed by the Bid Regulations for UEFA Finals and Final Phases (ed. December 2021), which are available on UEFA Documents.

For any questions regarding the bidding process please contact the UEFA bidding team under Bid_UNL_2025@uefa.ch.

Yours faithfully,
UEFA
Theodore Theodoridis
General Secretary

That's old news!

So Scotland for example have to bid as they have 2 large enough even if they don't want to host?

Of course an association do not have to bid even if they satisfy the requirements. It is up to them whether they are interested to host.

From what I read, I think the UEFA process is:

- After the quarter-final draw, if there is at least one quarter-final tie where both teams are capable of hosting, UEFA will award the hosting rights to one of these pairs, so whoever wins the tie will host.

- If there is no quarter-final tie that satisfy the above requirements, then UEFA will designate an association to host, no matter whether they eventually qualify for the finals themselves; so if they do not qualify, they will act as neutral hosts.

Should be a neutral host IMO.

It says must in bold!