The UEFA Nations League is reaching the pivotal stage and Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, and Spain have all qualified for the quarterfinals of League A, with two more teams scrapping to make it.
Portugal, France and Spain are all bidding to become the first two-time winners of the nascent competition and the rest of League A hope to become a first-time champion. All three are into the quarterfinal draw.
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Some of the other big storylines involved League B new boys England and League C new boys Sweden, as both suffered relegation in the last Nations League campaign; Both bounced back instantly to seal promotion back to League A and League B respectively.
Here are all the questions you might have, plus the schedules and standings, as the UNL winds its way toward a fourth champion.
How does the UEFA Nations League work?
The UEFA Nations League involves all 55 member associations of UEFA split up into four “Leagues” — League A, League B, League C, and League D.
Leagues A through C boast 16 teams each, divided into groups of four. League D has six teams divided into two groups of three.
The last-place team from each group in Leagues A, B, and C are automatically relegated to a lower league for the next tournament, while the third-placed teams in each League A and B group play a runner-up from a group below them in a playoff for the right to stay or advance to the higher league. The top two teams from each group qualify for the quarterfinals.
League D’s two runners-up play the two best League C fourth-place teams for the remaining spots in Group C.
UEFA Nations League finals, winners
2018-19: Portugal def. Netherlands in Portugal, 1-0
2020-21: France def. Spain in Italy, 2-1
2022-23: Spain def. Croatia in the Netherlands, 0-0 aet (5-4 pens)
2024-25 UEFA Nations League primer: Where is England?
England, perhaps shockingly, managed just three points from Group A3 in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League, losing twice to Hungary and once to Italy while twice drawing Germany and once sharing points with the Italians.
The Three Lions won Group B2 in the 2024-25 tournament, as they beat the Republic of Ireland 5-0 in their group stage finale to pip Greece to first place under interim boss Lee Carsley and seal promotion back to League A. Thomas Tuchel will soon be in charge, and he will be blessed with a stacked squad including plenty of youngsters who gained valuable minutes over the last few months.
Sweden fell out of Group B, relegated from a tough Group B4 with Serbia, Norway, and Slovenia in 2022-23. But the Swedes pipped Slovakia to earn promotion from Group C1, as star forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres led the Swedish charge, and will do so for many years to come.
When is the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League quarterfinal draw?
The draws for the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, semifinals, and promotion/relegation playoffs will be held on November 22, 2025 at 6am ET.
2024-25 UEFA Nations League knockout round dates
Quarterfinals — March 20 & 23
Four group runners-up vs Four group winners (Draw Nov. 22)
Semifinals — June 4 & 5
Quarterfinals winners
Third-place playoff — June 8
Final — June 8
2024-25 UEFA Nations League Group A tables
Group A1
- Portugal - 14 points, +8 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Croatia - 8 points, 0 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Scotland - 7 points, -1 GD — QUALIFY FOR RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
- Poland - 4 points, -7 GD — RELEGATED TO LEAGUE B
Group A2
- France - 13 points, +6 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Italy - 13 points, +5 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Belgium - 4 points, -3 GD — QUALIFY FOR RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
- Israel - 4 points, -8 GD — RELEGATED TO LEAGUE B
Group A3
- Germany - 14 points, +14 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Netherlands - 9 points, +6 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Hungary - 6 points, -7 GD — QUALIFY FOR RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
- Bosnia and Herzegovina - 2 point, -13 GD — RELEGATED TO LEAGUE B
Group A4
- Spain - 16 points, +9 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Denmark - 8 points, +2 GD — ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINALS
- Serbia - 8 points, -3 GD — QUALIFY FOR RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
- Switzerland - 2 points, -8 GD — RELEGATED TO LEAGUE B
2024-25 UEFA Nations League Group A results
September 5, 2024
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
Scotland 2-3 Poland
Denmark 2-0 Switzerland
Serbia 0-0 Spain
September 6, 2024
Belgium 3-1 Israel
France 1-3 Italy
September 7, 2024
Germany 5-0 Hungary
Netherlands 5-2 Bosnia and Herzegovina
September 8, 2024
Croatia 1-0 Poland
Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Denmark 2-0 Serbia
Switzerland 1-4 Spain
September 9, 2024
France 2-0 Belgium
Israel 1-2 Italy
October 10, 2024
Israel 1-4 France
Italy 2-2 Belgium
October 11, 2024
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Germany
Hungary 1-1 Netherlands
October 12, 2024
Croatia 2-1 Scotland
Poland 1-3 Portugal
Serbia 2-0 Switzerland
Spain 1-0 Denmark
October 14, 2024
Belgium 1-2 France
Italy 4-1 Israel
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-2 Hungary
Germany 1-0 Netherlands
October 15, 2024
Poland 3-3 Croatia
Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Spain 3-0 Serbia
Switzerland 2-2 Denmark
November 14, 2024
Belgium 0-1 Italy
France 0-0 Israel
November 15, 2024
Portugal 5-1 Poland
Scotland 1-0 Croatia
Denmark 1-2 Spain
Switzerland 1-1 Serbia
November 16, 2024
Germany 7-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Netherlands 4-0 Hungary
November 17, 2024
Israel 1-0 Belgium
Italy 1-3 France
November 18, 2024
Serbia 0-0 Denmark
Spain 3-2 Switzerland
Croatia 1-1 Portugal
Poland 1-2 Scotland
November 19, 2024
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1Netherlands
Hungary 1-1 Germany
