The UEFA Nations League groups are coming to an end, so we have looked in to all the information for the upcoming knockout stage and playoff draws.
After the opening group matches, 28 teams will take part in the knockout stage and play off aspect of the UEFA Nations League.
Some nations have already progressed to the knockout stages, including current holders Spain, who are favourites to win the competition on UK betting sites and some will need to make their way through.
Below is all the information you will need for the draw, including the date, venue and fate for nations including England.
When will the knockout stage and playoff draws take place?
The UEFA Nations League knockout stage and playoff draws will begin at midday CET (11am GMT) on Friday 22nd November.
UEFA officials will complete the draw in Nyon, Switzerland – which is where the UEFA headquarters are located.
How can I watch the UEFA Nations League draws?
Viewers will be able to watch the Nations League draw on the official UEFA website and live broadcast channels are still to be confirmed.
It is expected to last for about 30 minutes, as the nations are drawn into their respective knockout/playoff fixtures.
What UEFA Nations League draws are taking place?
There will be four different draws at UEFA HQ in Nyon Switzerland, as each aspect of the tournament needs to be filled.
The draws are:
- League A knockout stage: The four quarter final matches will be confirmed, between the League A winners and runners up – while also confirming the four semi final matches.
- League A/B playoffs: Next will be the confirmation of the four promotion/relegation matches between the countries that ended their campaign in third from League A and the runners up in League B.
- League B/C playoffs: Third placed nations from League B and the runners up in League C will receive their fate in this draw.
- League C/D playoffs: Finally, the ‘best’ fourth placed countries from League C and the runners up from League D will then be drawn into their next fixtures.
How will the draws work?
League A knockout stage:
Prior to the 2024/25 UNL, only the four group winners in League A made it to the knockout stages and played out the semi final fixtures.
This year will be slightly different, as the knockout stages were increased meaning eight nations will progress into double-legged quarter final matches.
This will be sectioned off into Pot 1 and Pot 2, with the former being filled with the group winners in League A and the latter being designated for the runners up.
Group winners will not be able to face the runners up that they have previously faced in the opening stage of this tournament.
Looking forward to the semi final draw, the first nation that is drawn will play at home for the opening leg of their semi final and the following nation will host the other semi final clash.
The third country drawn will be the away opponent for the nation that was drawn first and the fourth country will be the away side against the nation that was drawn second.
League A/B playoffs:
Four nations from the League A groups will be put into Pot 1 after finishing third and the runners up of League B will enter Pot 2.
Pot 2 will be drawn from first and the nations from Pot 1 will follow to finalise the playoff fixtures.
The countries from Pot 1 will all play away from home in the first leg and will host the second encounter.
If the winner of the playoff match is from League A then they will stay in that league, while the opponent will stay in League B.
But if a nation from League B wins, then they will be promoted to League A and the League A nation will drop into League B.
League B/C playoffs:
Four nations from the League B groups will be put into Pot 1 after finishing third and the runners up of League C will enter Pot 2.
Pot 2 will be drawn from first and the nations from Pot 1 will follow to finalise the playoff fixtures.
The countries from Pot 1 will all play away from home in the first leg and will host the second encounter.
If the winner of the playoff match is from League B then they will stay in that league, while the opponent will stay in League C.
But if a nation from League C wins, then they will be promoted to League B and the League B nation will drop into League C.
League C/D playoffs:
Four nations from the League C groups will be put into Pot 1 after finishing third and the runners up of League D will enter Pot 2.
Pot 2 will be drawn from first and the nations from Pot 1 will follow to finalise the playoff fixtures.
The countries from Pot 1 will all play away from home in the first leg and will host the second encounter.
If the winner of the playoff match is from League C then they will stay in that league, while the opponent will stay in League D.
But if a nation from League D wins, then they will be promoted to League C and the League C nation will drop into League D.
League A knockout stage qualifiers:
- Portugal – Group 1 winners
- France – Group 2 winners
- Germany – Group 3 winners
- Spain – Group 4 winners
- Croatia – Group 1 runners-up
- Italy – Group 2 runners-up
- Netherlands – Group 3 runners-up
- Denmark – Group 4 runners-up
League A/B playoff qualifiers:
- Scotland – Finished third in League A Group 1
- Belgium – Finished third in League A Group 2
- Hungary – Finished third in League A Group 3
- Serbia – Finished third in League A Group 4
- Czech Republic / Georgia / Albania / Ukraine – League B Group 1 runners-up
- Greece – League B Group 2 runners-up
- Austria – League B Group 3 runners-up
- Turkey / Wales / Iceland – League B Group 4 runners-up
League B/C playoff qualifiers:
- Czech Republic / Georgia / Albania / Ukraine – Finished third in League B Group 1
- Republic of Ireland – Finished third in League B Group 2
- Slovenia – Finished third in League B Group 3
- Turkey / Wales / Iceland – Finished third in League B Group 4
- Sweden / Slovakia – League C Group 1 runners-up
- Romania / Kosovo – League C Group 2 runners-up
- Bulgaria – League C Group 3 runners-up
- Armenia – League C Group 4 runners-up
League C/D playoff qualifiers:
- Estonia / Azerbaijan – Finished third in League C Group 1
- Cyprus – Finished third in League C Group 2
- Belarus – Finished third in League C Group 3
- Faroe Islands – Finished third in League C Group 4
- Gibraltar – League D Group 1 runners-up
- Moldova / Malta – League D Group 2 runners-up
When will the knockout stage and playoff matches take place?
On Thursday 20th March and Sunday 23rd March, the League A quarter finals, League A/B playoffs and League B/C playoffs will be contested.
A few months later on Wednesday 4th June and Thursday 5th June, the League A semi finals will begin and the third place playoff/final will be played on Sunday 8th June.
The League A quarter-finals, League A/B playoffs and League B/C playoffs are scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 20 and Sunday, March 23, 2025.
The League C/D playoffs will not begin for a wile, as they will be played on Thursday 26th March and Tuesday 31st March 2026.
