Today, September 5, the fourth cycle of the Nations League, 2024/2025, begins, in which Ukraine's national team will participate in Group 1 of League B. The first match is scheduled for September 7. The opponent — Albania.

In divisions A, B and C, there are sixteen teams each, while division D has six teams. 

Nations League-2024/2025

League A

Group A1: Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Scotland.

Group A2: Italy, Belgium, France, Israel.

Group A3: Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group A4: Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia.

League B

Group B1: Czech Republic, Ukraine, Albania, Georgia.

Group B2: England, Finland, Ireland, Greece.

Group B3: Austria, Norway, Slovenia, Kazakhstan.

Group B4: Wales, Iceland, Montenegro, Turkey.

League C

Group C1: Sweden, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Estonia.

Group C2: Romania, Kosovo, Cyprus, Lithuania.

Group C3: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Belarus.

Group C4: Armenia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Latvia.

League D

Group D1: Gibraltar, San Marino, Liechtenstein.

Group D2: Moldova, Malta, Andorra.

Photo uefa.com

Schedule of Group B1 Matches for the Nations League-2024/2025

Round 1

07.09.2024

Georgia — Czech Republic (19:00)

Ukraine — Albania (21:45)

Round 2

10.09.2024

Albania — Georgia (21:45)

Czech Republic — Ukraine (21:45)

Round 3

11.10.2024

Czech Republic — Albania (21:45)

Ukraine — Georgia (21:45)

Round 4

14.10.2024

Georgia — Albania (19:00)

Ukraine — Czech Republic (21:45)

Round 5

16.11.2024

Georgia — Ukraine (19:00)

Albania — Czech Republic (21:45)

Round 6

19.11.2024

Albania — Ukraine (21:45)

Czech Republic — Georgia (21:45)

Match times are in Kyiv time. 

In divisions A, B and C, participants are divided into four groups of four teams each. In division D there are two groups of three teams.

Winners of the groups in League A and teams that finish second will participate in quarter-finals of the Nations League at home and away, with winners qualifying for the final four. Teams finishing last in their quartets will drop to division B.

Teams finishing first in the groups of divisions B, C and D will move up respectively to divisions A, B and C. Teams finishing last in division B will drop to division C. The two worst teams from division C will drop to division D. 

Teams finishing third in the groups of League A and third — in League B, will play home-and-away playoffs against teams that finish second in the groups of League B and second — in the groups of League C respectively. The two best teams among the last ones from League C will meet other national teams from groups of League D. 

Photo uefa.com

What awaits Ukraine in League B?

As is known, based on the results of the Nations League-2022/2023, Ukraine's national team, finishing second in its group, remained in League B.

After a change in format for the group tournament stage in League B, where Ukraine will participate, if it finishes:

• first place — will move up to League A;
• second place — will play knockout matches against the team that finishes third in a group of League A;
• third place — will play knockout matches against the team that finishes second in a group of League C;
• fourth place — will drop to League C.

Knockout matches are scheduled for March 2025.

The places that the participants in the Nations League-2024/2025 finish with, will determine which group of teams, with four or five members, they will enter into the World Cup qualification tournament.

Teams divided into groups for the 2026 World Cup qualification tournament, either in March or June 2025 if they are still participating in the Nations League quarter-finals or playoff matches, will start their qualifying campaign. Teams divided into four-member groups will begin qualification for the World Cup in September 2025.

World Cup Qualification through the Nations League

Qualification to the FIFA World Cup-2026 in Europe, where 16 spots are up for grabs, will take place from March 2025 to March 2026 and consist of two rounds.

Round 1: Twelve groups with five or four teams each will play from March to November 2025 in a traditional group stage. Twelve group winners will receive direct tickets to the final tournament.

Twelve teams finishing second and the four best group winners of the UEFA Nations League-2024/2025 who finish below second place in the European qualification group stage, will participate in knockout mini-tournaments.

Round 2: Knockout mini-tournaments in March 2026 will consist of one-legged semi-finals and finals. Sixteen participants will be divided into four playoff paths. Four winners will receive tickets to the FIFA World Cup-2026.

From the Nations League regulations

In case of equal points in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025, a series of criteria are used to determine the final standings of teams in the table.

If two or more teams in one group have an equal number of points after the last round, then for determining positions the following criteria will be applied in this order:

1. A greater number of points earned against each other.
2. A better goal difference in matches between the teams concerned.
3. A greater number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned.
4. If criteria 1—3 still leave teams tied, then points 1—3 will be applied exclusively to the remaining teams.
5. A better goal difference in all group matches.
6. A greater number of goals scored in all group matches.
7. A greater number of away goals scored in all group matches.
8. A greater number of wins in all group matches.
9. A greater number of away wins in all group matches.
10. The lower total disciplinary points based on yellow and red cards received by players and representatives of the teams in all group matches (red card — 3 points, yellow card — 1 point, dismissal for two yellow cards in one match — 3 points).
11. The starting position in the Nations League draw for UEFA Nations League-2024/2025.