The Poland v Wales match on Wednesday June 1 at 6 p.m. will kick off the 2022/2023 Nations League. The competition was born on the initiative of UEFA in 2018, with the aim of reducing the friendly matches of national teams by allowing them to play matches at stake outside the World Cup and continental cups, against opponents at a similar level. . But how does the competition, won by France in 2021, work?
A division into several leagues
The League of Nations is divided into four Leagues ranging from A to D. The selections are distributed in the Leagues according to the place in which they finished during the previous edition. Leagues A, B and C are made up of 16 teams each, divided into four groups of four selections. League D is made up of seven teams divided into two groups.
We have blocked the display of this content to respect your cookie choices.
By clicking on “Consult”, you accept the deposit of cookies by social network services such as Twitter.
–
–
–
It will be Group A1 of the Nations League for our Blues! ????????????????
See you in June 2022 for the start of the competition?? #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/7brN7fEJSB
— France team ?? (@equipedefrance) December 16, 2021
During the group stage, each selection receives its opponents at home and travels away. The calendar is divided into two phases: a phase for group matches, which lasts approximately 4 months, and a second phase for league A which takes place over 1 month and for which the four league A group winners are qualified.
READ ALSO. How to get tickets for Les Bleus matches
The group winners of the other three leagues, B, C and D, are promoted to the higher league in the next edition. Conversely, the last in each group of leagues A and B are relegated to the lower league, for league C, the last contest relegation play-offs whose losers are relegated to league D. The last of the two league groups D cannot be relegated to a lower league.
A final phase with tempting posters
The final phase of the League of Nations takes place between the four winners of the pools of League A. The organizing country is chosen from among the four participants in the final phase. Then, a draw is made to know the adversary selections in the semi-finals. Qualification for the final is decided on a single match as in the World Cup. Finally, the final opposes the winners of the two semi-finals and a match for third place is organized between the two losers of the semi-finals, a fairly classic pattern. The winner becomes champion of the League of Nations.
We have blocked the display of this content to respect your cookie choices.
By clicking on “Consult”, you accept the deposit of cookies by social network services such as Twitter.
–
–
–
CHAMPS!!! The Blues win the Nations League by winning 2-1 against Spain! ?????? #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/yl7uxoZh6e
— France team ?? (@equipedefrance) October 10, 2021
Portugal were the first Nations League winners in 2020. In 2021, France won the trophy after a final won 2-1 against the Spaniards. The French had eliminated Belgium in the semi-final after being led 2-0, final score 3-2.
Tickets to be won for the Euro and the World Cup
The consolation prize for the selections not being part of the winners of the groups lies in obtaining a ticket to play the Euro or the World Cup.
The qualifications for the Euro distribute 20 places for the final phase, there are therefore four places left to be allocated. In each of the divisions, the winners of the four pools compete in play-offs which will give the winner of each play-off a chance to compete in the Euro. Finally, if teams already qualified via the Euro qualifiers finish first in their group, they are replaced by the highest ranked team in the division after them.
For the World Cup it is simpler, at the end of the qualifications of the European zone, the 2 best nations in the general classification of the League of Nations and not qualified for the World Cup, obtain a ticket for the final phase of world Cup.
–
