The Nations League is a biennial international football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The tournament was first held in 2018 and is designed to replace the traditional friendly matches with more competitive fixtures.

The Nations League is contested by the senior men’s national teams of UEFA member countries. The teams are divided into four leagues (A, B, C, and D) based on their UEFA coefficient rankings. Each league is further divided into groups, and the teams within each group compete in a round-robin format, playing home and away matches against each other.

The Nations League offers promotion and relegation between the leagues, meaning that the top teams in each group of a lower league are promoted to the next higher league for the following edition, while the bottom teams are relegated to a lower league.

The main purpose of the Nations League is to provide more meaningful and competitive matches for national teams. It also serves as a qualifying route for the UEFA European Championship, with four spots for the Euro tournament awarded to the Nations League group winners who have not already qualified through the traditional qualification process.

The Nations League has gained popularity since its inception as it provides additional excitement and competitive matches for fans and teams alike, while also reducing the number of meaningless friendly matches.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the governing body for football (soccer) in Europe. It was founded on June 15, 1954, and is one of the six continental confederations affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football.

UEFA is responsible for organizing and regulating football competitions within Europe. It oversees various tournaments and events at both the club and national team levels. Some of the most prominent competitions organized by UEFA include the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA European Championship (Euro), and the UEFA Nations League.

UEFA sets the rules and regulations for these competitions, including eligibility criteria, financial regulations, and disciplinary procedures. It also works to promote and develop football across Europe by supporting grassroots initiatives, coaching programs, and youth development.

UEFA consists of 55 member associations, each representing a European country’s football federation. These associations work collaboratively with UEFA to govern football in their respective countries and participate in UEFA competitions. The member associations collectively make decisions through various committees and the UEFA Congress, which is the organization’s supreme legislative body.

UEFA plays a crucial role in shaping European football and is recognized for its efforts in maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of the sport on the continent.