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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
George Flood

When is Nations League play-off draw? Date, start time, teams, how to watch, schedule and how it works

The draws for the Nations League play-offs take place this week as a number of countries nervously await their promotion or relegation fate for next season.

There’s been no shortage of drama in this year’s fourth edition of the international Uefa competition, though England managed a routine end to their successful bid for instant promotion back to League A with comfortable wins over Greece and the Republic of Ireland in the final matches under interim manager Lee Carsley before new boss Thomas Tuchel takes the Wembley reins in the New Year.

Northern Ireland also sealed promotion to League B under Michael O’Neill despite throwing away a two-goal lead to draw in Luxembourg in their final group game, while Andy Robertson’s stoppage-time winner meant Scotland were give hope of potentially avoiding demotion from the top tier.

The Republic of Ireland were thrashed by England in their final outing of Group B2, but remain with a chance of staying at the second level after snatching a play-off place ahead of lowly Finland. Wales came from behind to beat Iceland and earn promotion to League A as Group B4 rivals Turkey - currently top - collapsed at Montenegro.

Hope: Scotland’s last-gasp winner against Poland means they have a chance to avoid relegation from League A (Getty Images)

When is the Nations League play-off draw?

The draws for the Nations League play-offs take place on Friday, November 22, 2024 at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

What time is the Nations League play-off draw?

The draws are set to commence from 12pm CET, which is 11am GMT.

How to watch the Nations League play-off draw

The draws will be shown live on Friday online via a stream available on the official Uefa website.

How does the Nations League play-off draw work?

There are three separate draws for the Nations League play-offs, beginning with League C/D. The two best-ranked fourth-placed teams from League C have a chance to avoid the drop and enter into ties against the two runners-up from League D, the bottom tier of the Nations League.

For the League B/C play-offs, the four third-placed teams from League B are drawn against the four runners-up from League C.

It is the same format for the League A/B play-offs, where the four third-place group finishers from League A - which includes Scotland - are drawn against the four runners-up from League B.

Throughout all the play-off draws, the teams at risk of relegation are seeded and the nations looking for promotion are unseeded. The seeded teams will all be at home for the second legs.

Which teams are in the Nations League play-offs?

The full list of play-off teams will be confirmed on Tuesday night after the final matches in the last round of group-stage fixtures in the Nations League. However, Uefa will need to rule on the outcome of Group C2 after Romania vs Kosovo was abandoned in stoppage time on Friday.

League A/B play-offs

League A third-place teams

Scotland

Belgium

Hungary

Serbia

League B runners-up

Ukraine

Greece

Austria

Turkey

League B/C play-offs

League B third-place teams

Georgia

Republic of Ireland

Slovenia

Iceland

Chance: The Republic of Ireland will hope to avoid relegation from League B despite being thrashed by England (The FA via Getty Images)

League C runners-up

Slovakia

Kosovo

Bulgaria

Armenia

League C/D play-offs

Best-ranked League C fourth-place teams

Latvia

Luxembourg

Best-ranked League D runners-up

Gibraltar

Malta

When will the Nations League play-off matches be played?

All ties are two-legged and are provisionally set to take place in League A/B and League B/C on March 20 and March 23, 2025.

The League C/D play-offs are scheduled for later on, March 26 and March 31.

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