Facts: Nations League – that’s how it works
+ To be decided autumn 2023–spring 2024.
+ Three divisions with groups of four teams: the A division (with 16 teams), B (16) and C (19).
+ A total of six matches will be played. Each team plays one home and one away match against the other teams in the group.
+ The four group winners in the A division go to the playoffs. The teams meet there in single matches, in the semi-finals, final and match for third prize.
+ Every four years, the Nations League also serves as an Olympic qualifier for the European teams, which compete for three spots. In the first edition, it is the two final teams that accompany Olympic organizer France to the summer games in 2024. If France reaches the final, third in the Nations League also goes to the Olympics.
+ The placements in the Nations League are the basis for the ranking in the subsequent qualification for the EC/WC, which has the same game format as the Nations League.
+ The group winners and runners-up in the A division remain.
+ The group winners in the B and C divisions are promoted.
+ The four in the A and B divisions, as well as the worst-ranked group three in the B division, are moved down.
+ The third in the A division qualifies against the second in the B division for a place in the top division. Similarly, the top three finishers in the B division qualify against the top three finishers in the C division.
+ The Nations League qualifiers are played at the same time as the finals.
The Swedish national team players do not have time to be at home long in their club teams after the World Cup before it is again time for new efforts in the blue and yellow place. The group stage in the Nations League begins on September 22 when Sweden meets Spain at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg.
Sweden fell against Spain (1–2) in the semi-finals during the WC in Australia and New Zealand.
— It’s just to get revenge. It actually feels quite nice, says Elin Rubensson.
Olympic place in the pot
The European Football Association (Uefa) introduced the Women’s Nations League in autumn 2022 – and also a completely new qualification system. In order to increase the importance of the matches, the Nations League was connected with qualifiers for the World Cup and EC and every four years it should also serve as an Olympic qualifier.
This means that the first edition of the tournament, which starts in September, will make the European teams compete for three places to the Olympics in France 2024. The two final teams will accompany the Olympic organizer France to the summer games. If France reaches the final, third in the Nations League also goes to the Olympics.
Sweden has been drawn in group 4 in the A-division where Spain, Switzerland and Italy stand for the opposition.
— We start with a really great match against Spain at home. It’s a very tough Olympic qualification, but on the other hand, if it had been the old rules, we would have been out of the Olympics. Now we have a chance, says Peter Gerhardsson about the autumn’s Nations League matches.
“Extremely Tough”
Sweden’s shooting queen from the WC in Australia and New Zealand, Amanda Ilestedt, is looking forward to important matches with the national team already in September.
— A fun set-up, with many tough matches. Matches that you want to play. So I think that’s absolutely fun, says Ilestedt.
Even Zecira Musovic, who during the World Cup established herself as Peter Gerhardsson’s first choice in goal, likes the new Nations League structure, with matches that really matter instead of just playing practice matches for a whole year. But she also realizes that it will be a challenge for Blågult.
— It is extremely tough. We’ve made it to every single championship, but you shouldn’t forget the tough road. It will be extremely demanding, you have to win the group and then the semi-finals. It is an extremely long road, says Musovic.