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UEFA Nations League

The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international football competition for the senior men's national teams of UEFA member associations.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international football competition for the senior men's national teams of UEFA member associations. It was introduced in 2018 to replace many friendly matches with more competitive fixtures and uses a league system with promotion and relegation.

History

The UEFA Nations League was launched in 2018 as a new UEFA competition for European national teams. Its purpose was to replace many international friendlies with matches that carry competitive stakes.

Format

Teams are placed into leagues and groups, generally according to ranking, and play home-and-away matches. Promotion and relegation occur between editions, and the top League A teams advance to a finals stage.

Qualification significance

The Nations League can offer teams additional routes into qualifying play-offs for major tournaments. It does not, by itself, provide direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship.

Champions and editions

Portugal won the inaugural edition. Subsequent editions have continued on a two-year cycle, with the finals contested by the strongest teams from League A.

Key facts

  • The competition is contested by senior men's national teams from UEFA member associations.
  • Teams are divided into leagues and groups based on sporting level, with promotion and relegation between editions.
  • The first tournament was held in 2018 and 2019, and Portugal won the inaugural title.
  • The tournament is held every two years, with finals in odd-numbered years.
  • The competition was created to provide more meaningful international matches than traditional friendlies.
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Canadian context

Canada is not part of UEFA and does not compete in this tournament, but Canadian readers may encounter it through club and national-team football coverage in Europe.

Frequently asked questions

What is the UEFA Nations League?
A UEFA competition for senior men's European national teams, created to provide more competitive matches than friendlies.
When did it start?
The first UEFA Nations League tournament was held in 2018–19.
How often is it played?
It is played every two years.
How many teams take part?
54 UEFA member associations take part.
Does it replace World Cup or Euro qualifying?
No. It is separate, though it can affect access to some qualifying play-offs.
Who won the first edition?
Portugal won the inaugural tournament.

References

  1. UEFA — https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/about/
    Supports: Official description of the competition and its purpose
  2. UEFA — https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/0288-19a14a0f77d0-8b88a4fd8106-1000--2024-25-uefa-nations-league-all-you-need-to-know/
    Supports: Competition structure, promotion and relegation, and edition details
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Nations_League
    Supports: Overview, inaugural tournament, biennial timing, and winner
  4. BBC Sport — https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9wnkvqxwg8o
    Supports: 2026–27 season timing and general format
  5. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37484021/what-uefa-nations-league-how-does-work-complete-guide
    Supports: Number of UEFA members, league structure, and home-and-away group play