The draw for the group stage of the new tournament, Women's Nations League, took place in Nyon, Switzerland. The format of the Women’s Nations League resembles that of the men's version. 51 teams were divided into three leagues (two with 16 teams each and one with 19 teams) based on their positions in the UEFA women's national team ranking compiled after the completion of the group stage of the European qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

According to the results of the draw, Ukraine’s women's national team will compete in Group B3 against Poland, Serbia and Greece.

The top four teams from each group stage will qualify for the final round which will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Simultaneously, it will determine the participants of promotion/relegation matches before the qualification for Euro-2025.

Results of the Women's Nations League 2023/2024 Draw

League A

Group A1: England, Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland.

Group A2: France, Norway, Austria, Portugal.

Group A3: Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Wales.

Group A4: Sweden, Spain, Italy, Switzerland.

League B

Group B1: Ireland, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Albania.

Group B2: Finland, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia.

Group B3: Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Greece.

Group B4: Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus.

League C

Group C1: Malta, Moldova, Latvia, Andorra.

Group C2: Turkey, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Georgia.

Group C3: Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Cyprus, Faroe Islands.

Group C4: Israel, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Armenia.

Group C5: North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria.

How did the draw take place?

Teams in each league were divided into four pots based on their UEFA women's national team ranking. Each group received one team from each pot.

League A: Four groups of four teams each.

Pot 1: England, Germany, France, Sweden.

Pot 2: Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark.

Pot 3: Italy, Belgium, Austria, Iceland.

Pot 4: Switzerland, Wales, Portugal, Scotland.

Due to climate-related restrictions, groups could not include teams from Sweden, Norway and Iceland simultaneously.

League B: Four groups of four teams each.

Pot 1: Ireland, Poland, Czech Republic, Finland.

Pot 2: Serbia, Slovenia, Northern Ireland, Romania.

Pot 3: Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Hungary.

Pot 4: Greece, Croatia, Belarus, Albania.

According to the UEFA Executive Committee’s decision, Ukraine and Belarus could not be in the same group.

League C: Four groups of four teams each and one group with three teams.

Pot 1: Malta, Israel, Azerbaijan, Turkey, North Macedonia.

Pot 2: Kosovo, Montenegro, Luxembourg, Estonia, Moldova.

Pot 3: Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Bulgaria, Cyprus.

Pot 4: Faroe Islands, Georgia, Armenia, Andorra.

According to the UEFA Executive Committee’s decision, Azerbaijan and Armenia could not be in the same group. Due to climate-related restrictions, no more than two teams from the list of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Faroe Islands could be in one group.

To minimize transportation burden on teams, Kazakhstan could only be placed in a group with one of Andorra, Faroe Islands or Malta.

How will matches take place in groups?

All matches at the group stage will be played according to the usual format – home and away against each opponent in the group. Three points for a win, one point for a draw, zero points for a loss.

Who will play in the final round?

The four winners of groups in League A advance to the final tournament.

Who will be relegated? Who will play promotion/relegation matches?

League A

The two best teams in each group remain in League A for the European qualification of Euro-2025.

Four teams that finish third play promotion/relegation matches against teams finishing second in groups of League B. The winners will stay in League A; the losers will drop to League B.

Teams finishing fourth are relegated to League B.

League B

The four group winners advance to League A.

Four teams that finish second play promotion/relegation matches against teams finishing third in League A. The winners will stay in League A; the losers will drop to League B.

Three best teams finishing third play promotion/relegation matches against three best teams finishing second in League C. Winners remain in League B for European qualification; losers drop to League C.

The team with the lowest ranking among those finishing third and four teams that finish fourth are relegated to League C.

League C

Five group winners advance to League B.

Three best teams finishing second play promotion/relegation matches against three best teams finishing third in League B. Winners remain in League B for European qualification; losers drop to League C.

Other teams stay in League C.

Photo uefa.com

How will the final round of Nations League take place?

The four group winners from League A advance to the final tournament, which will be played in a one-off knockout format. Participants will play semi-finals, finals and third-place match. The draw will determine semi-final pairs and hosts for all matches. The winner of the final becomes the UEFA Women's Nations League trophy holder.

Who qualifies for the 2024 Paris Olympics?

The finalists of the UEFA Women’s Nations League qualify for the women's Olympic football tournament along with France (host of the 2024 Games). If France reaches the final, its spot goes to the bronze medalist.

If a place at the Olympics goes to an association not recognized by FIFA as a participant in the women’s Olympic football tournament, it will be awarded to the next best team that did not qualify for the final round.

Matches for promotion/relegation

Pairs are drawn and matches are played home and away. Teams finishing third in their groups are seeded and play at home.

Schedule of UEFA Women's Nations League 2023/2024

Group stage

Rounds 1—2: September 20-26, 2023.

Rounds 3—4: October 25-31, 2023.

Rounds 5—6: November 29 - December 5, 2023.

Final round: February 21-28, 2024.

Promotion/relegation matches: February 21-28, 2024.