Gareth Southgate’s side will contest a battle with the Republic of Ireland after the draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League was made in Paris. Scotland will make their debut in Group A. The format of the competition has been changed, meaning the top two teams in each League A group progress into a two-legged quarter-final in March, with the winners going into the finals tournament in June.
England will face Finland, Republic of Ireland and Greece after the men’s 2024/25 UEFA Nations League draw was made in Paris.
Gareth Southgate’s side have been placed in Group B2 following relegation from League A in the 2022/23 edition of the tournament.
The Three Lions finished bottom of a group containing Italy, Hungary and Germany after failing to win any of their six group fixtures played between June and September 2022.
England entered the draw among the top seeds in League B alongside Austria, the Czech Republic and Wales.
Robert Page’s side also suffered relegation from League A in the last reincarnation of the tournament, after propping up a group containing the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, drawing one and losing five of their group stage fixtures.
Scotland were the only Home Nations representative in League A following their promotion from League B – topping a group of Ukraine, the Republic of Ireland and Armenia.
Steve Clarke’s men were the bottom seeds in the draw, and their reward will be matches against Croatia, Portugal and Poland.
There has been a format change to the competition in League A, with the top two teams from each group progressing into two-legged quarter-finals in March, and the four winners will progress into June’s final-four tournament.
Meanwhile, the group winners in Leagues B, C and D will all earn promotion, with the bottom clubs relegated.
Teams finishing third in the League A groups play the League B runners-up, while League B’s third-place countries take on League C’s runners-up in two-legged promotion/relegation play-offs that are scheduled for March 2025.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland finished third in their League C group last time out, and were placed as third seeds in Thursday’s draw.
Michael O’Neill’s men can look forward to matches against Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Belarus.
