Euro Nations League: A Comprehensive Guide
The Euro Nations League significantly impacts Euro 2020 qualifying. The final standings from the Nations League were used to determine the seeding for the Euro 2020 qualifying draw. League A’s top ten teams secured spots in Pot 1, guaranteeing a more favorable draw. Relegated teams from League A with the poorest records, like Germany and Poland, were placed in Pot 2.
The Euro 2020 qualifying draw, held in December 2018, resulted in five groups of five teams and five groups of six. League A’s four group winners were placed in five-team groups, allowing June 2019 for the UEFA Nations League finals.
The Euro 2020 qualifying playoffs differ from previous tournaments. Instead of the eight best third-placed teams from regular qualifying, playoff teams are selected from the UEFA Nations League. Each League’s four group winners qualify for the playoffs. However, since 20 nations qualify through standard qualifying, many will likely be Nations League group winners. The best-ranked nation in each league that hasn’t qualified enters the playoffs.
The playoff spot isn’t automatically filled by the second-placed team if a group winner has already qualified. It goes to the highest-ranked team in that League, potentially a runner-up with the most points or even a third-placed team with the best record. The ranking for playoff eligibility is: League A, followed by League B, League C, and League D.
Teams finishing first and second in League C are guaranteed at least a playoff spot. However, a group winner cannot fill a higher draw pot. This protects teams like Scotland, Norway, Serbia, and Finland in League C from being used to fill League A or B playoff spots. If all League A teams qualify automatically, League C teams might contest the League A playoffs as the best-ranked non-qualified nations. If both League A and B have playoff spots, a draw determines the placement of additional playoff teams. The playoffs consist of two single-leg semifinals and a final to secure a Euro 2020 spot.
The Euro Nations League playoffs significantly impact teams with historically limited qualifying opportunities. For instance, one of Georgia, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Belarus from League D is guaranteed a Euro 2020 spot. Finland, from League C, has never reached a major tournament but now has a guaranteed playoff. Scotland and Norway, absent from major tournaments for years, also have renewed hope.
The next UEFA Nations League starts in September 2020, with revised divisions based on promotion and relegation. The new leagues for 2021 are structured with teams moving up or down based on their 2020 performance. While the Nations League dramatically impacts Euro qualification, its influence on World Cup qualification remains unclear. With fewer World Cup spots for European nations, integrating the playoff system, particularly for Leagues C and D, seems challenging. FIFA might use its world rankings for the qualifying draw instead of Nations League standings.
Without a qualification incentive for Leagues C and D, and potentially League B, performing well and earning promotion might not be advantageous. For example, a League C team promoted to League B for Euro 2024 qualification could face a more difficult path to the finals.