September 26 – UEFA has confirmed a reshuffle in the format of the second Nations League, offering a reprieve to Germany, Croatia, Poland and Iceland who would have been relegated from the top tier of the competition for its second edition in 2020.
The European governing body has expanded the competition’s A-League to sixteen teams, resulting in more games and more revenue for UEFA after the success of the inaugural Nations League which defending European champions Portugal won last summer in a mini-tournament on home soil.
The changes were confirmed on Tuesday at the organisation’s Executive Committee meeting in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. The tweak to the competition’s format is good news for Germany, who have been saved from relegation to League B. On the back of a disastrous World Cup Joachim Low’s team finished bottom of their group with the Netherlands and France.
They were relegated alongside Croatia, Iceland and Poland. Those three teams will now rejoin the top league as well. Leagues B and C will also feature 16 teams, leaving seven teams to compete in League D.
The maiden Nations League reportedly generated €500 million and UEFA is keen to build on the model that was introduced to rejuvenate the international game and phase out friendlies with more meaningful competition. More games in the Nations League as a knock-on effect will further reduce the number of friendly games.
The draw for the next Nations League will be held in Amsterdam on March 3, next year. The new format will be introduced for the second edition of the Nations League which will kick off in September 2020.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1730582599labto1730582599ofdlr1730582599owedi1730582599sni@o1730582599fni1730582599