2022/23 UEFA Nations League: All you need to know

The third edition of the UEFA Nations League kicked off in June 2022, and the Finals are scheduled for the same month a year later.

As for the 2020/21 edition, the 2022/23 competition consists of three leagues of 16 teams each and a fourth of seven, the make-up decided by promotions and relegations from that second running. The groups were set by the draw in Nyon on 16 December – we give you the lowdown on how it all works.

How does the 2022/23 Nations League work?

Leagues A, B and C all have 16 teams, which were drawn into four groups of four for the league phase. The remaining seven teams, in League D, were split into two groups, one of four and the other of three. In each case, teams play all their group opponents home and away in June and September 2022. Four of the six matchdays will be held in June due to the winter scheduling of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The four group winners in League A advance to the knockout Finals in June 2023. The group winners in the other three leagues will all be promoted for the 2024/25 edition.

The teams finishing fourth in the groups in Leagues A and B will be relegated. The teams finishing fourth in the League C groups will enter the play-outs in March 2024, with the two teams defeated in those ties moving to League D.

Who does each team play in the 2022/23 Nations League?

League A

Group A1: France, Denmark, Croatia, Austria
Group A2: Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Czech Republic
Group A3: Italy, Germany, England, Hungary
Group A4: Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Wales

League B

Group B1: Ukraine, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group B2: Iceland, Russia*, Israel, Albania
Group B3: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Romania, Montenegro
Group B4: Sweden, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia

League C

Group C1: Türkiye, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Faroe Islands
Group C2: Northern Ireland, Greece, Kosovo, Cyprus
Group C3: Slovakia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan
Group C4: Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Georgia, Gibraltar

League D

Group D1: Liechtenstein, Moldova, Andorra, Latvia
Group D2: Malta, Estonia, San Marino 

What are the dates for the 2022/23 Nations League?

Matchdays 1 & 2: 1–8 June 2022
Matchdays 3 & 4: 9–14 June 2022
Matchdays 5 & 6: 22–27 September 2022
Finals draw: tbc
Semi-finals: 14 & 15 June 2023
Final & third-place match: 18 June 2023
Play-outs: 21–23 & 24–26 March 2024

How will the 2023 Nations League Finals work?

The four League A group winners will take part with, in principle, one appointed as hosts. The semi-finals will be played on 14 and 15 June 2023, with the final and third-place play-off to follow on 18 June.

Previous Nations League finals

2019: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands (Porto)
2021: France 2-1 Spain (Milan)

How does UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying fit into this?

Three of the 24 places at UEFA EURO 2024 will be determined by play-off spots via the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League, as per the regulations.

Twelve teams will be selected based on their performance in the 2022/23 Nations League – nominally the group winners of Leagues A, B and C, but if they have already qualified, they will be replaced by the next best-ranked team in their league. If there are not enough non-qualified teams in the same league, then it filters down to the next league, finishing with League D.

*Russia will not participate in Group 2 of League B and will automatically be ranked fourth in this group.