Everything you need to know about the UEFA Nations League playoffs: draw, dates, and format
Lars Foster
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
With the group stage of the UEFA Nations League nearing its conclusion, attention now shifts to the playoffs. This season introduces several new elements to the format, including playoffs across all leagues, not just League A. A Dailysports team has prepared a comprehensive guide to the 2024-2025 Nations League playoffs.
How will the 2024-2025 Nations League playoffs work?
League A playoffs: The format has been expanded to include both group winners and runners-up. Group winners will face runners-up in the quarterfinals. The playoffs will progress through semifinals and a final.
Relegation/promotion playoffs: For the first time, Leagues A, B, and C will have playoffs for promotion and relegation:
- League A relegation playoff: Third-placed teams in League A groups will face second-placed teams from League B groups.
- League B relegation playoff: Third-placed teams in League B will face second-placed teams from League C groups.
- League C relegation playoff: The two best fourth-placed teams in League C will play against the two second-placed teams from League D.
How will the playoff draw work?
For the League A playoffs, group winners are seeded in Pot 1, and runners-up are placed in Pot 2. A blind draw determines the matchups, with the condition that teams who played in the same group cannot meet in the quarterfinals.
For the relegation/promotion playoffs in Leagues A, B, and C, third-placed teams form the seeded pot, while second-placed teams form the unseeded pot. Unseeded teams will host the first leg, with seeded teams hosting the second leg.
Key dates for the 2024-2025 Nations League playoffs:
- Playoff draw: November 22, 2024.
- League A playoffs:
- Quarterfinals: March 20-23, 2025.
- Semifinals: June 4-5, 2025.
- Third place match and final: June 8, 2025.
- Relegation/promotion playoffs:
- League A and B playoffs:
- First leg: March 20, 2025.
- Second leg: March 23, 2025.
- League C playoffs:
- First leg: March 26, 2025.
- Second leg: March 31, 2025.
- League A and B playoffs:
