'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
League A and B: The Teams, format and schedule
To further explain the happenings of the tournament, let's take a look at the individual groups and explain how the tournament will proceed.
League A
League A will consist of 12 teams which are the 12 highest ranked European Teams. The 12 teams will be divided into groups of 3. The teams in the 4 groups will play each other twice, once in their home and once away. The teams were seeded in 4 pots as per their rankings. The pots are as shown in the image.
These teams were then drawn into their respective groups. The draw took place at SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland on 24 January 2018. The groups formed are as follows:
Group 1 - Germany, France and Netherlands.
Group 2 - Belgium, Switzerland and Iceland.
Group 3 - Portugal, Italy and Poland.
Group 4 - Spain, England and Croatia.
The tournament begins on 6 September 2018 with Germany facing France at the Allianz Arena in Munich at 8:45 PM CET. The group stages conclude with Portugal facing Poland on 20 November 2018 at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes.
The 4 bottom placed members of their respective groups will be relegated to League B irrespective of their rankings. They will play the 2019-20 UEFA Nations League in League B. The 4 winners of their respective groups will proceed to the UEFA Nations League Finals in June of 2019.
League B
League B will also have 12 teams much like League A. They were the 12 highest ranked teams in Europe after the teams in League A at the time of seeding. The teams were again divided into 4 pots. The pots are shown below.
These teams were drawn into their respective groups as follows:
Group 1 - Slovakia, Ukraine and Czech Republic.
Group 2 - Russia, Sweden and Turkey.
Group 3 - Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland.
Group 4 - Wales, Republic of Ireland and Denmark.
Czech Republic will face Ukraine in the latter's home while Wales will host Republic of Ireland on 6 September 2018 8:45 pm CET to kick off League B. The final fixture is on 20 November 2018 with Sweden playing Russia at the Friends Arena, Solna.
The winners of every group will gain promotion to League A at the expense of the bottom placed teams in League A. The bottom placed teams of League B will however be relegated to League C for the next season.
