UEFA outlines new Nations League and qualifying formats from 2028 | OneFootball

UEFA confirmed at its executive committee meeting in Istanbul a 2028 overhaul of the Nations League and Euro and World Cup qualifying, with president Aleksander Ceferin saying the changes aim to improve balance, reduce dead rubbers and add appeal without extra international dates.

The Nations League, launched in 2018, will move from four tiers to three leagues of 18 teams. In the only part being tweaked, each league will comprise three groups of six.

Teams will meet four opponents once and one opponent home and away, totalling six matches. The competition will still conclude with quarter-finals, a final four and promotion or relegation play-offs.

Euro and World Cup qualifying will be played as two division-based championships linked to the Nations League. League 1 will contain 36 teams from Nations League Leagues A and B, with League 2 holding the remaining 18, or 19 if Russia return from their ban imposed in 2022.

League 1 will have three groups of 12, seeded across three pots. Each team will play six matches against six different opponents, two per pot, mirroring the club competitions model.

League 2 will mirror Nations League League C, with three groups. The best-ranked sides in each League 1 group will qualify directly for Euro and World Cup finals, with remaining places decided by play-offs accessible from League 2. The final format will be published in September.

Source: L'Équipe