2023-24 UEFA Women's Nation League: Preview, schedule and how to watch the Paris 2024 qualifier
With the inaugural UWNL quickly approaching, Olympics.com takes a look at the tournament and what it means for Paris 2024.
The inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League is on the horizon, with the first bit of football set to commence on Friday 22 September 2023.
Games will occur between September and February, coming to a conclusion months before the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
After a showpiece Women’s World Cup 2023, a keen eye will be on many of the teams taking part in the maiden version of this tournament, from winners Spain, runners-up England, and Germany, who suffered a shock group stage exit.
It will serve as a qualifier for Paris 2024, with two berths up for grabs.
There is plenty to play for across three leagues – with the Olympics in mind, here is some key information about League A specifically.
2023-24 UEFA Women's Nations League: Preview
Here are the key things to know about the UEFA Women’s Nations League, from different leagues and groups, to how the tournament will work.
How does it work?
The competition will see football split across three leagues - A, B, and C - based on the latest coefficient rankings. Teams will play opponents in their groups twice, home and away, before both relegations and promotions are decided across the leagues.
In League A, the sides who top the four groups will go into the knockout rounds of the competition consisting of semi-finals, a final, and a third-placed play-off.
The two finalists will qualify for the 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. In the event that France makes it to the final two, given they are already automatically qualified for the Games as hosts, the winner of the third-place play-off will therefore qualify.
Great Britain - England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland - will be represented solely by England. Should any of the three other nations make it to the final in their absence, or in a qualifying position, it would not see GB qualify for the Games.
The winner of the final will, of course, be crowned Champions of the tournament.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: Kadidiatou Diani of France celebrates after scoring her team's fifth goal and her hat-trick from the penalty spot during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Panama and France at Sydney Football Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
League A Groups
With the two Paris 2024 UEFA slots coming from Group A, here are the potential sides descending on France next summer...
Group A1
- England
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Scotland
World Cup runners-up and current European Champions England were drawn into Group A1, alongside 2017 Euro victors the Netherlands. The two footballing giants will be joined by Belgium and Scotland.
Group A2
- France
- Norway
- Austria
- Portugal
France - who will host the 2024 Olympic Games - are already guaranteed a spot in the tournament, but will participate in Group A2 regardless. Norway will make for tough opponents, followed by the inclusion of Austria and Portugal, with the latter very much on the rise.
Group A3
- Germany
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Wales
After a shock group stage exit in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Germany will be looking to bounce back by booking their place at the Olympics for a chance to win a major honour. Denmark, who made it to the Round of 16 of Australia & New Zealand 2023, will join them in Group A3, along with Iceland and Wales.
Group A4
- Sweden
- Spain
- Italy
- Switzerland
Group A4 is home to the newly crowned World Champions, Spain, though the status of their participation remains unknown amid their ongoing dispute with the RFEF. They will be joined by Sweden - who reached the final of the 2020 Olympic Games - along with Italy and Switzerland.
CHOFU, JAPAN - JULY 21: Stina Blackstenius #11 of Team Sweden celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Women's First Round Group G match between Sweden and United States during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium on July 21, 2021 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
2023-2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League: Schedule and how to watch (League A Groups)
There are a handful of group fixtures still waiting to be scheduled, but the first round of games is set to take place over the next week.
Here are the confirmed first round of clashes:
Friday 22 September
- England vs Scotland, 19:45 BST/20:45 CET KO
- Belgium vs Netherlands, 19:30 BST/20:30 CET KO
- France vs Portugal, 20:10 BST/21:10 CET KO
- Norway vs Austria, 18:00 BST/19:00 CET KO
- Denmark vs Germany, 17:00 BST/18:00 CET KO
- Iceland vs Wales, 19:00 BST/20:00 CET KO
- Sweden vs Spain, 17:30 BST/18:30 CET KO
- Switzerland vs Italy, 18:30 BST/19:30 CET KO
Tuesday 26 September
- Netherlands vs England, 19:00 BST/20:00 CET KO
- Scotland vs Belgium, 19:45 BST/20:45 CET KO
- Austria vs France, 17:30 BST/18:30 CET KO
- Portugal vs Norway, 18:15 BST/19:15 CET KO
- Germany vs Iceland, 17:15 BST/18:15 CET KO
- Wales vs Denmark, 19:15 BST/20:15 CET KO
- Spain vs Switzerland, 20:00 BST/21:00 CET KO
- Italy vs Sweden, 16:45 BST/17:45 CET KO
A full list of fixtures so far, including League B and League C, can be found here.
Broadcasting rights are subject to each nation, with England, Wales, and Scotland games set to be shown across BBC and ITV. A select number of games will also be available to watch on UEFA.tv.