Draft of the UEFA Nations League and Qualifications of the World and European Football Championships
Draft of the UEFA Nations League and Qualifications of the World and European Football Championships (as they say - two in one bottle)
UEFA Nations League
At the moment, the League of Nations is divided into four leagues.
Leagues A, B, C have 16 teams each.
The remaining 7 teams play in League D (including Russia).
If 16 teams remain in Leagues A, B, C, then the teams will play the 1st stage of the UEFA Nations League tournament according to the new system in force in the UEFA Champions League.
General stage of leagues
Each of the 16 teams of the League at the general stage will play eight matches.
The teams will be divided into four baskets, four teams each, based on the FIFA rating (at the time of the draw).
Each team will play four matches at home and four away (one game at home and one away with two different opponents (by lot) from each of the four baskets).
Basket splitting will take place on the following principles:
Pot 1 includes the 4 highest ranked teams in FIFA, out of the League's 16 entrants.
Baskets 2, 3 and 4 will include the remaining teams ranked in descending order of points in the FIFA ranking (5-8.9-12.13-16 places, out of 16 league participants).
I consider the option of dividing teams into only 2 ranks (1-8 and 9-16) less profitable.
Further qualification of the teams will be determined by the overall final table of the stage (1-16 places).
I propose to consider the winner of the general stage of League A the Owner of the UEFA Nations League Cup.
Since from 2026 FIFA will combine the September and October pauses for matches of national teams into one, which will last 16 days, then at this time all teams must play four meetings (from September 21 to October 6, 2026).
All teams will play two more games in November 2026 and March 2027.
In case of equality of points at the general stage, the following indicators are taken into account:
1. goal difference
2. goals scored
3. away points
3. away goals
4. Victories
5. away wins
6. points earned by 8 opponents
7. Difference between goals scored and conceded 8 opponents
8. Goals scored by 8 opponents
9. Disciplinary points
10. FIFA rating at the time of the draw.
The final stage of the Leagues (concurrently - this will be a separate Qualifying Qualifying Tournament of the World Championships, or Europe).
In order to avoid discriminatory moments (talk about infringing on the rights of weaker teams in relation to strong ones), all UEFA teams will play in the Qualification for the World and European Championships (plus the 56th team in League D (let's talk about this 56th team later).
This means that absolutely all teams will have a chance of reaching the final tournaments of these very significant sports competitions.
Based on the general stages of Leagues A, B, C, D, the general qualification scheme of the World and European Championships will be determined.
To avoid confusion, let's denote all 56 teams with numbers.
League A - 1-16 places;
League B - 17-32 places;
League C - 33-48 places;
League D - 49-56 places.
Thus, the Qualification Groups will look like this:
Group A * * * 1 * * * 14 * * * 15 * * * 28 * * * 29 * * * 42 * * * 43 * * * 56 *
Group B * * * 2 * * * 13 * * * 16 * * * 27 * * * 30 * * * 41 * * * 44 * * * 55 *
Group C * * * 3 * * * 12 * * * 17 * * * 26 * * * 31 * * * 40 * * * 45 * * * 54 *
Group D * * * 4 * * * 11 * * * 18 * * * 25 * * * 32 * * * 39 * * * 46 * * * 53 *
Group E * * * 5 * * * 10 * * * 19 * * * 24 * * * 33 * * * 38 * * * 47 * * * 52 *
Group F * * * 6 * * * 9 * * * * 20 * * * 23 * * * 34 * * * 37 * * * 48 * * * 51 *
56 teams are divided into 7 groups, 8 in each.
The results of the general stage of the UEFA Nations League do not count towards the Qualification of the World and European Championships, but will also become very significant and necessary, because they will be counted as the results of the 2nd stage of the UEFA Nations League.
However, these results can be useful under certain circumstances in the Qualifications of the World and European Championships.
I repeat once again that the Qualification tournament of the World and European Championships resets the results of the general stage of the UEFA Nations League.
In the Qualification groups of the World and European Championships, tournaments are held in only one round (each team will play 7 matches, 1 with each of the group's rivals).
The digital calendar of games (calendar scheme) is drawn up in advance.
The first 4 teams will play 4 matches at home and 3 away (the remaining 5-8 teams - 3 at home and 4 away).
This is their priority for higher positions in the tournament.
In addition, according to the principles of priority, matches were drawn up in pairs of teams adjacent to the occupied places (1-2.2-3.3-4.4-5.5-6.6-7.7-8).
Calendar of games for 8 teams of each group:
1-8 game days (1-8 rounds);
(1-8 - team numbers in groups by the best occupied places).
1st round * * * 8-1 * * * 2-3 * * * 6-7 * * *
2nd round * * * 1-6 * * * 4-2 * * * 3-8 * * * 7-5 * * *
3rd round * * * 5-1 * * * 6-3 * * * 8-4 * * *
4th round * * * 1-7 * * * 2-8 * * * 3-5 * * * 4-6 * * *
5th round * * * 2-6 * * * 3-7 * * * 4-5 * * *
6th round * * * 1-3 * * * 5-2 * * * 7-4 * * * 6-8 * * *
7th round * * * 4-1 * * * 2-7 * * * 8-5 * * *
8th round. * * * 1-2 * * * 3-4 * * * 5-6 * * * 7-8 * * *
2 rounds will be played in June, 4 rounds in September-October and 2 rounds in November 2027.
Based on the results of these Qualifications, teams will be determined to participate in the World and European Championships.
In practice, the three best teams from each group (1-3 places) will go to the final tournament of the European Championships and the two best (1 and 2 places) - to the World Championships.
Since the UEFA Nations League and Qualifications for the World and European Championships are combined and their future hosts are required to take part in the second stage of the tournament, interesting playoff matches for the remaining places in these prestigious tournaments are almost inevitable.
Let's analyze in detail all the nuances, along the way dealing with the entire structure of the UEFA Nations League.
European Championship 2028
England,Scotland, Wales and Ireland are the hosts of this tournament.
According to the regulations, they must get at least 2 places in the final tournament of the European Championship 2028 and at least 1 place in the playoffs of the Qualification for the Championship.
If 3 or 4 host teams of this tournament take 1-3 places in groups, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
The remaining three places will be determined in the playoffs with the participation of 7 teams that took 4th places in the groups according to the scheme:
Path 1 * * * * * * 1.6 and 7 teams (1-6/7);
Path 2 * * * * * * 2 and 5 teams (2-5);
Path 3 * * * * * 3 and 4 teams (3-4).
In pairs of Paths 2 and 3, the playoffs will consist of 2 matches (the first matches are played on the fields of 4 and 5 teams).
There will be two one-legged rounds in Path 1 (Round 1 - 6-7 teams play on the 6th course; in Round 2, the 1st team at home will play the winner of Round 1).
These matches will be played in March 2028.
The following is the rule for determining the places/positions of teams in the playoffs:
First, the places in the groups occupied in the Qualifications of the World and European Championships are compared
The following is the rule for determining the places/positions of teams in the playoffs:
First, the places in the groups occupied in the Qualifications of the World and European Championships are compared
Before the playoffs, only teams that took 4th places in the groups will be allowed.
Only host countries of Euro 2028 can receive exceptions under the regulations.
If these teams take places below the 4th, they will receive positions lower than the 4th teams of other groups.
This indicator is also used in the case of comparison (if necessary) of the host teams of Euro 2028.
With the same places of the teams in the Qualification groups of the World and European Championships, their positions in the playoffs are determined by the best final place of the UEFA Nations League.
The final places of teams in all 4 Leagues (1-16), or the entire UEFA Nations League (1-16.17-32.33-48.49-56) are determined by the principle of adding the results of 8 matches of the general stage of the Leagues and 7 matches of the Qualifications of the World and European Championships.
Each League has a separate standings
In case of equality of points in the sum of two stages, the following indicators are taken into account:
1. goal difference on the sum of two stages
2. goals scored on the sum of two stages
4. Victories
6. Points earned by 15 opponents (in League D - 14 opponents)
7. Difference between goals scored and goals conceded by 15 opponents (in League D - 14 opponents)
8. Goals scored by 15 opponents (in League D - 14 opponents)
9. Disciplinary points in 15 matches (in League D - in 14 matches)
10. Places of teams at the 1st stage.
This is how the three winners of the UEFA Nations League (in League A) will be determined.
I propose to call the winner of the UEFA Nations League the UEFA Nations League Champion.
4-7 days after the UEFA Champions League final (late May - early June), I propose to hold the UEFA Nations League Super Cup (on the field of the UEFA Nations League Champion - with the UEFA Nations League Cup Winner).
If the Champion has 2 trophies of the UEFA Nations League, then he will play the Super Bowl with the Silver medalist of this League.
Interchange between Leagues
Two teams with 15 and 16 League A places are promoted to League B.
They are replaced by 2 teams with 1-2 places in League B.
4 teams of Leagues A and B in March 2028 will play 2-match playoffs for the right to play in League A according to the scheme:
(the hosts of 1 matches are the first in the scheme)
1st pair - 4th place in League B - 13th place in League A;
2nd pair - 14th place in League A - 3rd place in League B.
Two teams with 15 and 16 League B places are promoted to League C.
They are replaced by 2 teams with 1-2 League C places.
4 teams of League B and C in March 2028 will play 2-match playoffs for the right to play in League B according to the scheme:
(the hosts of 1 matches are the first in the scheme)
1st pair - 4th place in League C - 13th place in League B;
2nd pair - 14th place in League B - 3rd place in League C.
1 team with 16th place in League C is transferred to League D.
It is replaced by 1 team with 1 place in League D.
4 teams of League C and D in March 2028 will play 2-match playoffs for the right to play in League C according to the scheme:
(the hosts of 1 matches are the first in the scheme)
1st pair - 3rd place in League D - 14th place in League A;
2nd pair - 15th place in League C - 2nd place in League D.
In cases where any of the teams that are required to play the UEFA Nations League playoffs will be forced to host the World or European Championship Qualification playoffs in March, their UEFA Nations League matches will be postponed to late May and early June.
8 teams of League D at the 1st stage of the UEFA Nations League will hold a one-round tournament similar to the Qualification for the World or European Championships.
Thus, 8 teams of this League will eventually play 14 games each (unlike the other three Leagues, which will have 15 matches each).
Since UEFA currently has only 55 countries, the 56th participant in the League of Nations may be the best team in the Island Games football tournament (for example, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Wight, Anglesey, Isle of Man, Shetland, Greenland, Åland, Rhodes, Outer Hebrides, Menorca, Alderney, Frs yuya, Gotland, Gozo, Hitra Municipality, Sark, Orkney Islands, Saaremaa), or the national teams of Monaco, the Vatican.
Now, again, back to the analysis of the Qualification of the European Championship 2028.
An absolutely similar situation will happen if two teams - the hosts of this tournament take 1-3 places in the groups, and the 3rd and 4th teams will be in 4 places.
Path 1 * * * * * * 1.6 and 7 teams (1-6/7);
Path 2 * * * * * * 2 and 5 teams (2-5);
Path 3 * * * * * 3 and 4 teams (3-4).
In pairs of Paths 2 and 3, the playoffs will consist of 2 matches (the first matches are played on the fields of 4 and 5 teams).
There will be two one-legged rounds in Path 1 (Round 1 - 6-7 teams play on the 6th course; in Round 2, the 1st team at home will play the winner of Round 1).
If two host teams of this tournament take 1-3 places in groups, and 2 others take places below the 4th (5-8), then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
The remaining three places will be determined in the playoffs with the participation of 7 teams that took 4th places in the groups and according to the regulations - 1 host teams of the European Championship (better in terms of indicators than the 4th such host team) according to the scheme:
1st round:
4 pairs of teams: 1-8; 2-7; 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 1-4 teams).
2nd round:
4 winners of the 1st round play.
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
2 winners of the 2nd round go to the European Championship.
3rd round:
2 losers in the 2nd round play on the 1st of the 2 remaining in the playoffs.
1 winner of the 3rd round goes to the European Championship.
If only 1 host team of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, and 3 others - 4th places, then 21 participants of the European Championship will be determined.
The 22nd place in the regulations will be given to the best team from the 3 remaining hosts of the European Championship.
The remaining 6 teams with 4 places will play 2 places for the European Championship according to the scheme:
1st round:
2 pairs of teams: 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 3 and 4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the remaining 4 teams in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
If only 1 host team of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, and 2 others - 4th places, then 21 participants of the European Championship will be determined.
The 22nd place in the regulations will be given to the best team from the 3 remaining hosts of the European Championship.
The remaining 7 teams with 4 places will play 2 places for the European Championship according to the scheme:
1st round:
3 pairs of teams: 2-7; 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 2-4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
The same playoff scheme for 7 teams will be if only 1 host team of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, 1 other - 4th place, and 2 remaining - 5-8.
If only 1 host team of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, and 3 others - 5-8 places, then 21 participants of the European Championship will be determined.
The 22nd place in the regulations will be given to the best team from the 3 remaining hosts of the European Championship.
Then the 3rd host country of the European Championship will become the 8th participant in the playoffs.
1st round:
4 pairs of teams: 1-8; 2-7; 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 1-4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
If none of the 4 host teams of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, and 3 or 4 of these teams take 4th places in groups, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
According to the regulations, 2 more places will go to 2 host countries of the European Championship, the best in terms of indicators.
Then 3-4 host countries of the European Championship will be among the 7 participants in the playoffs.
1st round:
3 pairs of teams: 2-7; 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 2-4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
3rd round:
2 winners in the 2nd round play on the 1st field, from among the 2 remaining in the playoffs.
If none of the 4 host teams of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, and 2 of these teams take 4th places in groups, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
According to the regulations, 2 more places will go to these 2 host countries of the European Championship.
Then the 3rd host country of the European Championship will be among the 6 participants in the playoffs for 1st place in the European Championship..
1st round:
2 pairs of teams: 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 3 and 4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the field of 1 and 2 teams).
3rd round:
1 pair of teams: 1-2, from among the 2 remaining in the playoffs (on the field of the 1st team).
If none of the 4 host teams of this tournament takes 1-3 places in the groups, and 1 of these teams takes 4th place in the group, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
According to the regulations, 2 more places will go to 2 host countries of the European Championship - this team with 4th place in the group and the best of the 3 remaining host teams.
Then the 3rd host country of the European Championship (better than the 4th in terms of indicators) will be among the 7 participants in the playoffs.
1st round:
3 pairs of teams: 2-7; 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 2-4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
3rd round:
2 winners in the 2nd round play on the 1st field, from among the 2 remaining in the playoffs.
If none of the 4 host teams of this tournament takes 1-4 places in the groups, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
According to the regulations, 2 more places will go to 2 host countries of the European Championship - 2 out of 4, the best in terms of indicators.
The remaining 1 place will be determined in the playoffs with the participation of 7 teams that took 4th places in the groups and 1 host team of the European Championship (better in terms of indicators than the 4th such host team) according to the scheme:
1st round:
4 pairs of teams: 1-8; 2-7; 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 1-4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
3rd round:
2 winners in the 2nd round play on the 1st field, from among the 2 remaining in the playoffs.
European Championship 2032 in Italy and Turkey
If 2 host teams of this tournament take 1-3 places in groups, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
The remaining 7 teams will play in the playoffs for the 3 remaining places for the European Championship (this case is analyzed above).
If 1 host team of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, and the other - 4th, then 21 participants of the European Championship will be determined.
The 22nd participant in the Championship according to the regulations will be the 2nd host team.
The remaining 6 teams will play in the playoffs for the 2 remaining places for the European Championship (this case is analyzed above).
If 1 host team of this tournament takes 1-3 places in groups, and the other - below the 4th, then 21 participants of the European Championship will be determined.
The 22nd according to the regulations will be the 2nd host team.
The remaining 7 teams will play in the playoffs for the 2 remaining places for the European Championship (this case is analyzed above).
If 2 host teams of this tournament take 4th place in the groups, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
According to the regulations, these 2 host teams will become 22-23 participants in Euro2028.
Then the 5 remaining teams with 4 places will play playoffs for 1 place for the European Championship 2032 according to the scheme:
1st round:
1 pair: 4-5 (on 4th pitch)
2nd round:
2 pairs: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
3rd round:
1 pair: 1-2, from among the 2 remaining in the playoffs (on the field of the 1st team).
If 1 host team of this tournament takes 4th place in the group, and the other - below 4th, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
According to the regulations, these 2 host teams will become 22-23 participants in Euro2028.
Then the 6 remaining teams with 4 places will play playoffs for 1 place for the European Championship 2032 (this case is analyzed above).
If 2 host teams of this tournament take 5-8 places in groups, then 21 participants in the European Championship will be determined.
According to the regulations, these 2 host teams will become 22-23 participants in Euro2028.
Then 7 teams with 4 places will play playoffs for 1 place for the European Championship 2032 (this case is analyzed above).
2030 World Cup
Spain and Portugal are among the hosts of the Championship.
If 2 these countries take 1-2 places in the groups, then 14 places of the Championship will be determined.
The remaining 2 places will be played by 7 teams with 3 places (this case is analyzed above).
If the 1st host country of the World Cup takes 1-2 places in the group, and the 2nd - 3rd place, then 14 places of the Championship will be determined.
The 15th place in the regulations will be given to the 2nd host country of the Championship.
Then the remaining 1 place for the Championship will be played in the playoffs by 6 teams with 3 places (this case is analyzed above).
If the 1st host country of the World Cup takes 1-2 places in the group, and the 2nd - 4-8th places, then 14 places of the Championship will be determined.
The 15th place in the regulations will be given to the 2nd host country of the Championship.
Then the remaining 1 place for the Championship will be played in the playoffs by 7 teams with 3 places (this case is analyzed above).
If 2 host countries of the World Cup take 3-8th places in the groups, then 14 places of the Championship will be determined.
The 15th and 16th places in the regulations will be given to the two host countries of the Championship.
Playoffs in this case are not held.
Force majeure circumstances regarding the World Championships.
If FIFA increases quotas and gives Europe 17 or 18 places at the 2030 World Cup, or even more, if it increases to 64 teams (in 2034 or in 2038), it will not be difficult for us to recalculate the nuances of the new Qualification.
World Cup 2034 in Saudi Arabia
Teams that took 1-2 places in 7 groups Qualifications receive 14 places for the World Cup 2034.
The remaining 2 places will be played in the playoffs by 7 teams with 3 places in groups according to the scheme:
1st round:
3 pairs of teams: 2-7; 3-6 and 4-5 (on the fields of 2-4 teams).
2nd round:
2 pairs of teams: 1-4 and 2-3, from among the 4 remaining in the playoffs (on the fields of 1 and 2 teams).
Other UEFA Nations League options
They differ only in the number of teams in the Leagues and the number of Leagues.
4 Leagues (A, B, C, D) with 14 teams each.
Teams will be divided into four baskets, three or four teams each, based on the FIFA rating (at the time of the draw).
It is possible to distribute teams into only two baskets, seven teams each, based on the FIFA rating (at the time of the draw).
3 Leagues (A, B, C) with 18+18+20 teams each.
League teams, where there will be 18 teams divided into four baskets, four to five in each, based on the FIFA rating (at the time of the draw).
League teams, where there will be 20 teams divided into four baskets, five in each, based on the FIFA rating (at the time of the draw).
2 Leagues (A, B) with 28 teams each.
Teams will be divided into four baskets, seven teams each, based on the FIFA rating (at the time of the draw).