Comprehensive Guide to the Women's Nations League: Structure, Teams, and World Cup Qualifications

Overview of the Women's Nations League

Launched in 2023, the Women's Nations League serves as a pivotal competition for European national teams, shaping the road to major international tournaments like the 2027 Women's World Cup. The league is structured into three divisions: League A, League B, and League C, based on team rankings from the 2024 women's European qualifying league stage.

League Structure and Teams

• League A: Consists of top-tier teams such as Germany, Spain, England, and France. The group winners advance to the semi-finals, with a final round determining the league champion.
• League B and C: Features teams aspiring for promotion to higher leagues or battling relegation. Gibraltar and Liechtenstein will make their debut in League C.

Promotion and Relegation

The league employs a promotion and relegation system, where the bottom teams in League A are demoted to League B, and the top teams in League B and League C secure promotions. This dynamic structure ensures competitive balance and opportunities for emerging teams.

Qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup

Performance in the Nations League plays a crucial role in determining the seeding for the European qualifiers for the 2027 Women's World Cup:

• Top League A teams secure direct entries into the World Cup qualifiers.
• Promoted teams from League B enter a playoff system for a chance to qualify.

The group stages begin in February 2025, with the finals scheduled for November 2025. Spain, the reigning champions, set to defend their title and continue their dominance in women's football.

Key Matchups and Fixtures

Highlights include England vs. Spain in League A, a clash of former World Cup winners and European giants. The league phases span multiple match days:

• Match Days 1-2: 21-26 February
• Match Days 3-4: 4-8 April
• Match Days 5-6: 30 May-3 June