Klopp’s newfound support makes the Nations League crucial for qualification

German national team boss Jürgen Klopp, who once declared himself no Freund of the Nations League, now welcomes the competition as a cornerstone of Germany’s upcoming four Nations League fixtures. “I am simply glad we are now there, that we play,” he said at the squad presentation, underscoring the shift.

A reform that reshapes the competition

The current season marks the start of a sweeping overhaul. While the 2026/27 edition still features four leagues – A, B, C and D – from 2028/29 the tournament will be trimmed to three leagues, A, B and C, each comprising eighteen teams split into three groups of six. The final tournament for League A will remain unchanged, a detail that the UEFA board calls Wichtig for the sport’s calendar.

Promotion, relegation and the path Auf and Aus

Promotion and relegation will continue to decide movement Auf and Aus the tiers at the end of each cycle. Should Russia be readmitted, the full complement of fifty‑five UEFA members would expand a League C group to seven sides. The new structure ensures that every team’s league position directly influences its future opportunities.

Direct link to the Quali

A pivotal change ties Nations League performance to the Quali for major tournaments. Only nations that reach at least League B will be placed in the upper tier for the World Cup 2030 and Euro 2032 qualification. The format mirrors the Champions League, with three groups of twelve in the top league playing six matches each – three at home, three away – to decide direct spots and playoff places.

German media predict three-way points race in Nations League group

With a forty‑eight‑team World Cup, UEFA will allocate sixteen places, while the European Championship offers twenty‑four spots. Even hosts, such as Italy and Turkey in the 2024 test, will still compete in the Quali to secure a favourable start for the subsequent Nations League and World Cup campaigns. The UEFA president stressed that the new system is Wichtig for sporting balance.

For powerhouses, the reform means they will only meet micro‑states like San Marino, Gibraltar or Andorra in the playoff stage, eliminating festive trips to remote venues such as the Faroe Islands. Smaller nations, however, gain more competitive matches and have already enjoyed surprise victories, as seen in recent seasons when San Marino and Gibraltar recorded winning runs.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the overhaul will bring “more sporting balance” and “fewer meaningless games”. He added that all teams will receive a fair chance at qualification without adding extra dates to the international calendar, a point he described as Wichtig for the future of European football.