UEFA Nations League format change reduces relegation risk for Belgium

A Fresh Start Under Mark van Bommel

The squad enters the new UEFA Nations League cycle remaining in League A, having secured their top-tier status through tense playoff matches against Ukraine in March 2025. Those survival fixtures became necessary after Belgium finished third in a group featuring France, Italy, and Israel. Familiar foes await in the current group stage, with France and Italy returning as opponents alongside Turkey.

Format Overhaul Reshapes Relegation Risks

While the caliber of opponents remains demanding, regulatory changes introduced by UEFA alter the pressure on group-stage positioning. Reporting from Het Laatste Nieuws highlights that European football’s governing body is restructuring the Nations League format starting with the 2028/29 edition, compressing the four existing leagues into three tiers of eighteen teams each. This overarching structural shift alters promotion and relegation parameters for the current tournament phase.

Under the revised regulations, only the two worst-performing fourth-place finishers across League A will suffer direct relegation. Meanwhile, the remaining two fourth-placed teams will contest playoff fixtures against the two worst-performing third-place sides. Consequently, securing a third-place finish in the group no longer automatically condemns a nation to a relegation battle. This modified structure provides a clear safety net compared to the previous campaign, where finishing third immediately forced Belgium into a high-stakes survival playoff against Ukraine.

KBVB Targets Knockout Qualification

Despite the softened landing for third-place finishers, the internal ambition within the Belgian federation remains firmly fixed on the upper half of the standings. The KBVB has made clear that the objective is to finish among the top two teams in the group. Reaching the top two secures direct qualification for the Nations League quarterfinals, bypassing the relegation playoffs entirely. Friday’s opening test against elite European opposition will test whether Van Bommel’s revamped squad can immediately challenge for the top positions in a formidable group.