The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League play-offs concluded with intense battles across the tiers, as Belgium and Greece emerged victorious in their respective ties to secure a place in League A for the next edition of the competition. Serbia and Türkiye also confirmed their spots in the top tier, while teams like Scotland and Hungary faced relegation setbacks.
Belgium Stages Stunning Comeback Against Ukraine
Belgium, a third-ranked League A team, fought back from a 3-1 defeat in the first leg against Ukraine. In the return leg, they won 3-0 at home to clinch a 4-3 aggregate victory. The turnaround was a testament to the team’s resilience and attacking prowess, as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne delivered key performances.
With this win, Belgium retains its League A status, while Ukraine must regroup after missing out on promotion.
Greece Overcomes Scotland to Secure Historic Promotion
Inspired by 17-year-old sensation Konstantinos Karetsas, Greece made history by earning promotion to League A. After losing the first leg 1-0 at home, Greece stunned Scotland with a 3-0 victory in the return leg, securing a 3-1 aggregate win.
Scotland’s struggles in the second leg saw them concede two goals before halftime, with Karetsas scoring in a standout performance. The result means Scotland drops to League B, a major setback for a team with high hopes for top-tier contention.
Serbia and Türkiye Dominate to Confirm League A Status
Serbia ensured its place in League A with a 2-0 win over Austria in the second leg, sealing a 3-1 aggregate triumph. Despite fighting hard in the first leg, Austria couldn’t contain Serbia’s disciplined defensive setup.
Meanwhile, Türkiye delivered the most dominant play-off performance, dismantling uefa Hungary 6-1 on aggregate. A 3-1 first-leg win was followed by a 3-0 away victory, highlighting Türkiye’s attacking strength and solidifying their place in the top tier.
League B/C Play-offs: Kosovo, Georgia, and Ireland Triumph
In the League B/C play-offs, Kosovo and Georgia secured promotion with uefa dominant performances, while the Republic of Ireland edged past Bulgaria in a tight contest.
- Kosovo defeated Iceland 5-2 on aggregate, winning both legs uefa convincingly.
- Georgia demolished Armenia 9-1 across two legs, proving too strong for their League C opposition.
- The Republic of Ireland needed a 2-1 home win in the second leg to win 4-2 on aggregate against Bulgaria.
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg against Slovakia, Slovenia needed uefa extra time in Ljubljana to find the breakthrough. Adam Gnezda Čerin’s late strike ensured Slovenia’s 1-0 aggregate win, pushing them into League B.
Full UEFA Nations League Play-off Results
League A/B Play-offs
First Legs (March 20, 2025)
- Türkiye 3-1 Hungary
- Ukraine 3-1 Belgium
- Austria 1-1 Serbia
- Greece 0-1 Scotland
Second Legs (March 23, 2025)
- Hungary 0-3 Türkiye (Agg: 1-6)
- Belgium 3-0 Ukraine (Agg: 4-3)
- Serbia 2-0 Austria (Agg: 3-1)
- Scotland 0-3 Greece (Agg: 1-3)
League B/C Play-offs
First Legs (March 20, 2025)
- Kosovo 2-1 Iceland
- Bulgaria 1-2 Republic of Ireland
- Armenia 0-3 Georgia
- Slovakia 0-0 Slovenia
Second Legs (March 23, 2025)
- Iceland 1-3 Kosovo (Agg: 2-5)
- Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (Agg: 4-2)
- Georgia 6-1 Armenia (Agg: 9-1)
- Slovenia 1-0 Slovakia, AET (Agg: 1-0)
What’s Next? The League C/D Play-offs
While the League A/B and B/C play-offs are settled, the League C/D play-offs will begin uefa on March 26, 2026. Gibraltar, Latvia, Malta, and Luxembourg will fight for places in League C, with the second leg on March 31, 2026.
- First Legs (March 26, 2026)
- Gibraltar vs Latvia
- Malta vs Luxembourg
- Second Legs (March 31, 2026)
- Latvia vs Gibraltar
- Luxembourg vs Malta
If any League C/D play-off teams qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers, these play-offs will not be played. Instead, the bottom-ranked teams in League C will remain, uefa while League D teams will stay in the lower tier.
Implications for the Next Nations League Cycle
With the play-offs complete, the league lineup for uefa the next UEFA Nations League is set:
League A:
Belgium, Greece, Serbia, Türkiye
League B:
Austria, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Republic of uefa Ireland, Slovenia, Scotland, Ukraine
League C:
Armenia, Bulgaria, Iceland, Slovakia
These results shape the future of European uefa international football, setting the stage for intense battles when the next Nations League cycle kicks off. Promoting Greece, Türkiye, and Kosovo introduces fresh competition at higher levels, while Scotland, Hungary, and Bulgaria face rebuilding after relegation.
The UEFA Nations League continues to provide exciting, high-stakes international football. The upcoming tournament promises even greater drama with new teams earning their spots in top divisions.
