Who Italy could face in Nations League quarter finals | OneFootball

All but two of the UEFA Nations League A League quarter-finalists have been confirmed ahead of the final round of group stage fixtures over the next two days, including Italy, who will host France in front of a sell-out crowd in San Siro on Sunday evening.

Who Italy could play in Nations League quarter-finals

Italy have qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals, but have not technically guaranteed their position as group winners. They will do so as long as they avoid losing by two or more goals against France this evening.

If Italy do finish as the winners of Group A2, they will be placed into pot 1 in the quarter-final draw, and will face a team that finished second in their respective group. The same also applies the other way around.

Here is who Italy could play in the Nations League quarter-finals, depending on their eventual group stage finish,

If Italy win the Group: Netherlands, Croatia, Poland or Scotland, Denmark or Serbia.

If Italy finish second: Portugal, Germany or Spain.

What connection Nations League has with World Cup qualification

Winning the group in the Nations League provides teams with a second chance if they have not already qualified for the World Cup.

Europe’s World Cup qualifiers will begin in 2025. The participating nations will compete for 16 slots at the final tournament in the United States.

The national teams will be divided into 12 groups and all 12 group winners will automatically qualify for the World Cup.

The 12 runners up will proceed to a play-off round, along with the four highest-ranked Nations League group winners who have not already qualified. Those 16 teams will then be whittled down to four after a single-legged semi-final and final.