Spain captured the title in the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League, marking the competition’s third winner since its inception. Held in the Netherlands, the finals saw Spain triumph over Croatia in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw at De Kuip. This victory underscores the Nations League’s role in reinvigorating the international football calendar with more engaging and competitive matches.
Success Stories Across Europe
Since its launch, the UEFA Nations League has provided national teams with meaningful fixtures, enhancing competitive balance without adding extra dates to the football calendar. Over the 2022/23 season, 33 teams have secured at least one promotion, demonstrating the tournament’s impact on teams’ fortunes and their chances in European Qualifiers.
Teams like Scotland, Hungary, Israel, and Serbia, who were in League C in the inaugural 2018/19 season, will begin the next edition in League A. Scotland, in particular, stands out with the highest win percentage (62.5%) in the Nations League and a successful return to the men’s EURO in 2021. Georgia is another notable example, climbing from League D to League B with a win percentage of 61.1%.
The increased interest from fans and media has been evident, with the 2023 finals attracting 126,200 spectators and a global live viewership of 557.8 million, alongside 2.7 billion social media interactions.
Future Format Changes
The Nations League will undergo format changes starting in September 2024. A new knockout round will link the group stage, ending in November, with the finals in June 2025. This revised structure, approved by the UEFA Executive Committee in January 2023, includes quarter-finals for League A’s group winners and runners-up, with home-and-away fixtures determining the final four. Additionally, promotion and relegation play-offs will involve teams ranked third in League A and runners-up from Leagues B and C, ensuring even more competitive encounters.
Expanding to Women’s Football
UEFA aims to replicate the success of the men’s Nations League in women’s football with a new two-phase competition system starting in September 2023. This system will lead to qualification for the Women’s EURO or the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The inaugural women’s Nations League will conclude in February 2024, with promotions and relegations determining team placements for the subsequent European Qualifiers phase. The semi-finals of the Women’s Nations League will also decide which teams join France in the 2024 women’s Olympic football tournament, with a chance for a third team if France qualifies as a finalist.
The UEFA Nations League continues to evolve, enhancing the competitive nature of international football and expanding its innovative format to include women’s competitions.
