2018–19 UEFA Nations League — 2018–2019 edition of the UEFA Nations League
The 2018–19 UEFA Nations League was the first edition of UEFA's new international competition, replacing meaningless friendly matches and linking results to Euro 2020 qualification.
Key Facts
- Edition
- Inaugural (first ever)
- Member associations involved
- 55 teams
- League phase dates
- September – November 2018
- Finals tournament host
- Portugal, June 2019
- Euro 2020 playoff berths awarded
- 4 of 24 final tournament slots
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
UEFA sought to replace low-stakes international friendly matches with competitive fixtures that carried meaningful consequences. A new tiered league format was devised to ensure all 55 member associations competed at an appropriate level, with results tied to qualification pathways for major tournaments.
The 2018–19 UEFA Nations League was contested across four leagues (A–D) by all 55 UEFA member associations. The league phase ran from September to November 2018, with the League A group winners advancing to a finals tournament hosted in Portugal in June 2019.
Team performances in the league phase directly seeded nations for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying group stage and determined who received play-off berths, ultimately deciding four of the twenty-four spots at Euro 2020, giving the new competition immediate competitive relevance.