Germany, France, Netherlands Drawn Together in UEFA Nations League

The new competition will kick off in September 2018 in hopes of revitalizing the typical friendly FIFA international dates.

The draw for the UEFA Nations League has been made, pitting countries against each other in an exciting new four-tier relegation/promotion biennial competition that promises to breathe fresh life into international football across Europe.

All 55 European teams were split between the four leagues (A-D) based on their UEFA coefficient at the end of the World Cup qualifying groups in October 2017.

The tournament carries the incentive that traditionally weaker countries begin on a more level playing field, in contrast to typical World Cup or European Championship qualifying campaigns, and can earn a higher place on merit.

Similarly, stronger countries will be motivated to avoid the embarrassment of relegation.

.@LuisFigo thinks the UEFA #NationsLeague will add 'purpose' and 'competitiveness' to the international calendar.

Watch the draw today from 12:00CET at https://t.co/XdBiSzjw1U 📲 pic.twitter.com/aKVqjUJZHD

— UEFA (@UEFA) January 24, 2018

League A:

Group 1	Germany, France, Netherlands
Group 2	Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland
Group 3	Portugal, Italy, Poland
Group 4	Spain, England, Croatia

League B:

Group 1	Slovakia, Ukraine, Czech Republic
Group 2	Russia, Sweden, Turkey
Group 3	Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Northern Ireland
Group 4	Wales, Republic of Ireland, Denmark

League C:

Group 1	Scotland, Albania, Israel (three countries only)
Group 2	Hungary, Greece, Finland, Estonia
Group 3	Slovenia, Norway, Bulgaria, Cyprus
Group 4	Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania

League D:

Group 1	Georgia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Andorra
Group 2	Belarus, Luxembourg, Moldova, San Marino
Group 3	Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, Malta, Kosovo
Group 4	FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar

The inaugural competition will begin in September 2018, with teams to play four or six times between then and the end of the year depending on how many countries are in their group.

The four group winners in League A will progress to the finals that will be held in June 2019.

Meanwhile, the others that finish top and bottom of their groups will be promoted and relegated respectively to the appropriate league above or below. There will also be one extra place at Euro 2020 on offer for each of the four leagues in the form a four-way playoff.

The four winners of these playoffs will then join the rest of the qualifiers at Euro 2020.

UEFA has published the following schedule of events:

Matchday 1: 6–8 September 2018

Matchday 2: 9–11 September 2018

Matchday 3: 11–13 October 2018

Matchday 4: 14–16 October 2018

Matchday 5: 15–17 November 2018

Matchday 6: 18–20 November 2018

Finals draw: Early December 2018

Finals: 5–9 June 2019

UEFA EURO 2020 playoff draw: 22 November 2019

UEFA EURO 2020 playoffs: 26–31 March 2020