More silverware is up for grabs for England Lioness boss Sarina Wiegman, as the UEFA Women’s Nations League is ready to go ahead for the 2023-24 season, a competitive addition on the international stage in the women’s game to the men’s competition, first introduced in 2018.
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are all involved in the new format and the draw took place earlier today (Tuesday) in Nyon.
What's the format and how will it work?
Mirroring the men’s competition, the idea behind the UEFA Women's Nations League is to reduce the number of meaningless friendlies and try to ensure nations face opponents of similar quality. The tournament draw begins with each member association divided into three leagues based on ranking.
51 teams will participate in total, the top 16 teams occupy League A, the rest divided into League B and C. Within these leagues, teams will play in smaller groups of three or four, playing each team home and away. Yet only sides in League A will look to qualify for the tournament finals.
The four group winners from League A will compete in the semi-finals (one leg only) and then a final with the winner being crowned the first-ever Nations League champion. Meanwhile, nations in the lower Leagues will be looking to win promotion and avoid relegation.
How does the Nations League affect the Olympics?
The Women’s Nations League final will also determine which European nations qualify for the women's football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The two sides who reach the finals will qualify for the Games, although this excludes France, who are already guaranteed a place as hosts.
When do the matches take place?
The league matches will take place on six days spread across three international breaks in September, October and November/December 2023. The Euro 2025 qualifiers that follow then take place in spring 2024.
The opening matchday will take place only a month after the 2023 Women's World Cup finishes in August.
The date for the first-ever finals is yet to be announced, but it will take place during the summer of 2024
Who are the home nations against?
England were drawn in League A1 against The Netherlands, Belgium and Scotland. It will be the first meeting between England and Scotland since the 2019 Women’s World Cup where the Lionesses were 2-1 victors.
Wales were drawn in Group A3 with Germany, Iceland and Denmark, meanwhile, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland will meet in a local derby in League B1 alongside Hungary and Albania.
League A:
Group A1: England, Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland
Group A2: France, Norway, Austria, Portugal
Group A3: Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Wales
Group A4: Sweden, Spain, Italy, Switzerland
League B:
Group B1: Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Albania
Group B2: Finland, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia
Group B3: Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Greece
Group B4: Czechia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus
League C:
Group C1: Malta, Moldova, Latvia, Andorra
Group C2: Turkey, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Georgia
Group C3: Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Cyprus, Faroe Islands
Group C4: Israel, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Armenia
Group C5: North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria
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