Evening Standard
·19 novembre 2024
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·19 novembre 2024
Scotland and the Republic of Ireland both await their fate, with Wales also set to be involved
The draws for the Nations League play-offs take place this week as a number of countries nervously await their promotion or relegation fate for next season.
There’s been no shortage of drama in this year’s fourth edition of the international Uefa competition, though England managed a routine end to their successful bid for instant promotion back to League A with comfortable wins over Greece and the Republic of Ireland in the final matches under interim manager Lee Carsley before new boss Thomas Tuchel takes the Wembley reins in the New Year.
Northern Ireland also sealed promotion to League B under Michael O’Neill despite throwing away a two-goal lead to draw in Luxembourg in their final group game, while Andy Robertson’s stoppage-time winner meant Scotland were give hope of potentially avoiding demotion from the top tier.
The Republic of Ireland were thrashed by England in their final outing of Group B2, but remain with a chance of staying at the second level after snatching a play-off place ahead of lowly Finland.
Wales’ fate is set to be determined on Tuesday night, meanwhile, with promotion to League A guaranteed if they overcome Iceland in Cardiff and Group B4 rivals Turkey - currently top - fail to beat winless Montenegro.
If Craig Bellamy’s side end up finishing second in the group, they will also be entered into the draw for the two-legged play-offs for a chance at promotion. But defeat would see them in the play-offs battling relegation, such are the fine margins in the competition.
Hope: Scotland’s last-gasp winner against Poland means they have a chance to avoid relegation from League A
Getty Images
The draws for the Nations League play-offs take place on Friday, November 22, 2024 at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The draws are set to commence from 12pm CET, which is 11am GMT.
The draws will be shown live on Friday online via a stream available on the official Uefa website.
There are three separate draws for the Nations League play-offs, beginning with League C/D. The two best-ranked fourth-placed teams from League C have a chance to avoid the drop and enter into ties against the two runners-up from League D, the bottom tier of the Nations League.
For the League B/C play-offs, the four third-placed teams from League B are drawn against the four runners-up from League C.
It is the same format for the League A/B play-offs, where the four third-place group finishers from League A - which includes Scotland - are drawn against the four runners-up from League B.
Throughout all the play-off draws, the teams at risk of relegation are seeded and the nations looking for promotion are unseeded. The seeded teams will all be at home for the second legs.
The full list of play-off teams will be confirmed on Tuesday night after the final matches in the last round of group-stage fixtures in the Nations League. However, Uefa will need to rule on the outcome of Group C2 after Romania vs Kosovo was abandoned in stoppage time on Friday.
League A/B play-offs
League A third-place teams
Scotland
Belgium
Hungary
Serbia
League B runners-up
Czechia, Georgia, Albania or Ukraine
Greece
Austria
Turkey, Wales or Iceland
League B/C play-offs
League B third-place teams
Czechia, Georgia, Albania or Ukraine
Republic of Ireland
Slovenia
Wales or Iceland
Chance: The Republic of Ireland will hope to avoid relegation from League B despite being thrashed by England
The FA via Getty Images
League C runners-up
Slovakia
Kosovo or Romania
Bulgaria
Armenia
League C/D play-offs
Best-ranked League C fourth-place teams
Latvia
Luxembourg or Azerbaijan
Best-ranked League D runners-up
Gibraltar
Malta
All ties are two-legged and are provisionally set to take place in League A/B and League B/C on March 20 and March 23, 2025.
The League C/D play-offs are scheduled for later on, March 26 and March 31.