Netherlands' Nations League start puts Euro 2028 ticket at stake

Netherlands kick off the 2024/25 Nations League with four decisive fixtures while club football across most of the world lies dormant for international dates. A striking image of Brian Brobbey challenging Germany, captured by photographer Pim Ras, underscores the heightened focus on the competition.

Why the Nations League matters

Even after its 2018/19 launch, the tournament remains a replacement for meaningless friendlies, offering competitive stakes. Nations League matches can secure qualification tickets for the European Championship or the World Cup, adding tangible reward beyond pride. The competition therefore shapes the international calendar across Europe.

All UEFA members, except Russia because of the war in Ukraine, are allocated to four levels – A through D – with A the highest. Within each level, teams are split into groups; the Netherlands sit in division A. This structure ensures every nation has something to play for, whether promotion, relegation or a chance at the finals.

Netherlands' group fixtures

Under new national team manager Xavi, the Dutch side host Germany, travel to Greece, and meet Serbia both at home and away. With these four matches each opponent in the group becomes crucial for the campaign. The fixtures arrive as club football across Europe remains largely on hold.

The group winner could clinch a Euro 2028 ticket should the Netherlands fail to qualify through the regular route. It also represents the first possible trophy for the Dutch men since the Euro triumph of 1988, a prize even Cristiano Ronaldo has called a genuine “main prize”. Brian Brobbey, who featured in the Germany clash, is among the players eyeing that success.

Path to the Nations League finals

If the Netherlands finish first or second in their group, they advance to the Nations League final stage, joining the other seven group leaders or runners‑up from division A. The knockout phase culminates in a final scheduled for 13 June 2027. The eight remaining nations will be drawn into a straight‑knockout bracket to decide the champion.

Beyond the trophy, promotion and relegation battles loom. A third‑place finish forces a two‑legged playoff against the second‑placed team from a division B group, while fourth place drops straight to division B for the next edition. These mechanisms keep the league dynamic and affect future qualification pathways.

Promotion and relegation across all divisions

Division B features four groups: group winners rise directly to division A, second‑placed sides face a playoff against a division A third‑place team, third‑placed teams meet a division C second‑place side, and fourth‑placed sides descend to division C. Division C mirrors this pattern, with group winners moving up to B and second‑placed teams entering a playoff against a B third‑place side; the fourth‑placed teams either contest a playoff against another C fourth‑place side or a division D second‑place side. In division D, the two group winners earn direct promotion to C, while the runners‑up play a playoff against a C fourth‑place team.

The pause in club competitions across Europe highlights how the Nations League now commands the continent’s attention, with the Netherlands balancing a quiet domestic calendar against the high stakes of securing Euro qualification, a possible trophy, and future division status. This contrast underlines the tournament’s growing importance for the Dutch side.