Italy handed Nations League relegation reprieve as UEFA confirms rule changes

Italy handed Nations League relegation reprieve as UEFA confirms rule changes UEFA has softened the relegation rules for this season’s Nations League, giving Italy a safer landing if their group goes badly. According to the FIGC , the changes were confirmed by UEFA’s Executive Committee meeting in Thessaloniki, and exist to prepare for a bigger overhaul from 2028-29, when each league will expand from 16 teams to 18 and be split into three groups of six. PARMA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: (L-R) Leonardo Bonucci and Roberto Mancini attend the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images) What has actually changed for Italy Previously, the bottom side in each League A group went down automatically and all four third-placed teams faced a play-off. Now only the two worst fourth-placed teams are relegated outright. The two best third-placed teams stay up without playing again, while the two worst third-placed sides and the two best fourth-placed sides go into play-offs against the League B runners-up. Qualification is unchanged: four group winners and four runners-up reach the quarter-finals. In short, the route forward is the same, the drop is harder to fall through. ENSCHEDE, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 15: Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini attends before the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 semifinal match between Spain and Italy at FC Twente Stadium on June 15, 2023 in Enschede, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) Roberto Mancini’s side face four matches in 11 days, starting with Belgium in Rome on 25 September.