Nations League Play-offs: Results, Promotion, and Relegation

Nations League play-offs: The UEFA Nations League has added an exciting dynamic to international football, with promotion and relegation battles keeping teams engaged. The 2024–25 season saw intense play-offs determining which nations moved up or down across the league divisions. Here’s a breakdown of the latest results and what they mean for the teams involved.

Table of Contents
How the Promotion and Relegation Play-offs Work
The play-offs involve teams from adjacent leagues battling for a spot in the higher tier. Matches are played over two legs, with the winners securing promotion and the losers facing relegation.
Structure of the Play-offs:
- League A vs. League B: Third-placed teams from League A face League B runners-up. Winners stay in or move up to League A, while losers drop to League B.
- League B vs. League C: Third-placed League B teams face League C runners-up, fighting for a League B spot.
- League C vs. League D: The lowest-ranked League C teams face League D runners-up to determine League C participants.
Now, let’s take a look at the crucial results from the recent play-offs.
Key Play-off Results
Greece vs. Scotland
- Aggregate Score: Greece 3-1 Scotland
- Outcome: Greece secures promotion to League A, while Scotland drops to League B.
Turkey vs. Hungary
- Aggregate Score: Turkey 6-1 Hungary
- Outcome: Turkey moves up to League A, and Hungary faces relegation to League B.
Serbia vs. Austria
- Aggregate Score: Serbia 3-1 Austria
- Outcome: Serbia earns a spot in League A, while Austria stays in League B.
Republic of Ireland vs. Bulgaria
- Aggregate Score: Republic of Ireland 4-2 Bulgaria
- Outcome: Ireland retains its League B status, and Bulgaria fails to move up.
Kosovo vs. Iceland
- Aggregate Score: Kosovo 5-2 Iceland
- Outcome: Kosovo secures promotion to League B, while Iceland is relegated to League C.
Georgia vs. Armenia
- Aggregate Score: Georgia 9-1 Armenia
- Outcome: Georgia remains in League B, while Armenia stays in League C.
Slovenia vs. Slovakia
- Aggregate Score: Slovenia 1-0 Slovakia (after extra time)
- Outcome: Slovenia stays in League B, while Slovakia remains in League C.
Implications of the Play-offs
These results have significantly reshaped the landscape of the UEFA Nations League:
Teams Promoted to League A:
- Greece
- Turkey
Teams Relegated to League B:
- Scotland
- Hungary
Teams Promoted to League B:
- Kosovo
Teams Relegated to League C:
- Iceland
The competition continues to provide thrilling encounters and opportunities for teams to prove their strength on the international stage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How do the UEFA Nations League play-offs work?
A1: Play-offs involve teams from different leagues competing in two-legged ties. Winners are promoted, and losers are relegated to a lower division.
Q2: Which teams were promoted to League A this season?
A2: Greece and Turkey earned promotion to League A after winning their play-offs.
Q3: How did the Republic of Ireland perform in the play-offs?
A3: Ireland won 4-2 on aggregate against Bulgaria, securing their League B status.
Q4: What was the result of Serbia vs. Austria?
A4: Serbia won 3-1 on aggregate and secured a place in League A.
Q5: Were there any major surprises in the play-offs?
A5: Greece’s stunning comeback against Scotland, winning 3-0 in the second leg, was a notable upset, resulting in Scotland’s relegation.
The UEFA Nations League continues to elevate international football with its competitive structure, ensuring that every match matters. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming fixtures and league changes!
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