UEFA Nations League: England drawn with Republic of Ireland, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland learn fate

ByJames Hilsum

Updated 08/02/2024 at 23:47 GMT

Gareth Southgate's side will contest a battle with the Republic of Ireland after the draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League was made in Paris. Scotland will make their debut in Group A. The format of the competition has been changed, meaning the top two teams in each League A group progress into a two-legged quarter-final in March, with the winners going into the finals tournament in June.

‘Listen to Goodison Park!’ – Scenes as Branthwaite snatches Everton a point in stoppage-time

England will face Finland, Republic of Ireland and Greece after the men’s 2024/25 UEFA Nations League draw was made in Paris.

Gareth Southgate’s side have been placed in Group B2 following relegation from League A in the 2022/23 edition of the tournament.

The Three Lions finished bottom of a group containing Italy, Hungary and Germany after failing to win any of their six group fixtures played between June and September 2022.

Euro 2024

'Complete irrelevance' - Southgate focused on England despite Man Utd rumours

13/05/2024 at 08:37

England entered the draw among the top seeds in League B alongside Austria, the Czech Republic and Wales.

Robert Page’s side also suffered relegation from League A in the last reincarnation of the tournament, after propping up a group containing the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, drawing one and losing five of their group stage fixtures.

Scotland were the only Home Nations representative in League A following their promotion from League B – topping a group of Ukraine, the Republic of Ireland and Armenia.

Steve Clarke’s men were the bottom seeds in the draw, and their reward will be matches against Croatia, Portugal and Poland.

There has been a format change to the competition in League A, with the top two teams from each group progressing into two-legged quarter-finals in March, and the four winners will progress into June's final-four tournament.

Meanwhile, the group winners in Leagues B, C and D will all earn promotion, with the bottom clubs relegated.

Teams finishing third in the League A groups play the League B runners-up, while League B's third-place countries take on League C's runners-up in two-legged promotion/relegation play-offs that are scheduled for March 2025.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland finished third in their League C group last time out, and were placed as third seeds in Thursday's draw.

Michael O'Neill's men can look forward to matches against Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Belarus.

UEFA Nations League draw in full

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, Republic of 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/Gibraltar*
Group C3: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Belarus
Group C4: Armenia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Latvia

*Lithuania and Gibraltar will contest a play-off match in March 2024 to see which country ends up in League C or D

League D

Group D1: Lithuania/Gibraltar, San Marino, Liechtenstein
Group D2: Moldova, Malta, Andorra

The 2024/25 Nations League dates

Matchday 1: September 5-7, 2024
Matchday 2: September 8-10, 2024
Matchday 3: October 10-12, 2024
Matchday 4: October 13-15, 2024
Matchday 5: November 14-16, 2024
Matchday 6: November 17-19, 2024
Knockout round play-off draw: November 2024
Knockout round play-offs: March 20-25, 2025
League A quarter-finals: March 20-25, 2025
Final tournament: June 4-8, 2025

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

Football

Dele Alli sets sights on 2026 World Cup - 'Light at the end of the tunnel'

16/04/2024 at 17:41

Euro 2024

Dier eyes place in England squad at Euro 2024 - 'I'm that level of a player'

09/04/2024 at 18:13

Premier League

Mainoo 'will be crucial for England this year' - Cole

04/04/2024 at 21:30