Page 100 - Soccer360 Issue 107

NATIONS LEAGUE
TOP:
Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after scoring 0-2 during a Nations League soccer match between Norway and Serbia
RIGHT:
Kane’s England will look to podium in this year’s Nations League
SERBIA’S ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC CURRENTLY LEADS THE UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE ALL- TIME GOAL SCORING RACE AT14
Committee will select the host country from among the four finalists, and the ultimate winner will be crowned the Nations League champion.
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION:
The competition also focuses on promotion and relegation, creating a dynamic system across the four leagues. Group winners in Leagues B, C, and D are promoted to the next higher league, while the last-placed teams in Leagues A and B are relegated. League C will see two teams relegated directly, a change from previous editions that involved play-outs. Promotion/ relegation play-offs are introduced to further determine league placements. These matches will be contested over two legs, with the higher-ranked team hosting the second leg.
MATCH WINNERS
In all two-legged ties, the higher-ranked teams host the second leg. The team that
scores more goals on aggregate is the winner. If the aggregate score is level, extra time is played (the away goals rule is not applied). If the score remains level after extra time, a penalty shoot-out is used to decide the winner
TIEBREAKERS:
In instances where teams are tied on points within their groups, the tiebreakers are determined by points in matches among the tied teams, goal difference, and goals scored among those teams. If still tied, further criteria include overall goal difference, goals scored, and away goals, followed by disciplinary points and UEFA Nations League access list positions.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION:
The 2024–25 Nations League will be partially integrated into the qualification process
for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Twelve group winners from the initial group stage will qualify directly for the World Cup. The play- offs will involve the twelve group runners-
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