The UEFA Nations League will take place every two years following World Cup and European Championship tournaments.
It will feature UEFA’s 55 member nations divided into four leagues based on their rankings by UEFA, which are themselves split into four groups of three or four teams.
The 2018-19 edition will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports.
Each side will play home and away fixtures against the other teams in their group throughout September, October and November 2018, with group winners from leagues B, C and D promoted, and bottom-placed teams from A, B and C relegated.
The four group winning sides from league A will contest a final stage in June 2019 consisting of two semi-finals, a final and a third and fourth-place play-off.
In order to raise the stakes beyond the international friendlies, the competition will offer teams another chance to qualify for Euro 2020.
The 16 group winners, or the next best-placed teams that haven’t already qualified for Euro 2020, will enter a play-off round in the hope of winning one of four Euro 2020 qualification berths available.
Sky Business managing director David Rey said: “We were treated to a remarkable summer of football that sets the scene perfectly for the UEFA Nations League and we hope that the tournament will recreate those heady days of the World Cup.
“All seven of England’s World Cup games attracted more than 1.5m people per game to pubs and bars, so we know the value these games bring in terms of footfall and custom.”
In their first competitive match since their most successful World Cup campaign in 28 years, Gareth Southgate’s England take on former world champions Spain at Wembley before a rematch with their Russia 2018 semi-final conquerors Croatia in October.
England group fixtures (Group A4 with Spain and Croatia)
- Saturday 8 September – England v Spain – Kick off 7.45pm
- Friday 12 October – Croatia v England – Kick off 7.45pm
- Monday 15 October – Spain v England – Kick off 7.45pm
- Sunday 18 November England v Croatia – Kick off 2pm
Northern Ireland group fixtures (Group B3 with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria)
- Saturday 8 September – Northern Ireland v Bosnia and Herzegovina – Kick off 2pm
- Friday 12 October – Austria v Northern Ireland – Kick off 7.45pm
- Monday 15 October – Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland – Kick off 7.45pm
- Sunday 18 November Northern Ireland v Austria – Kick off 5pm
Republic of Ireland group fixtures (Group B4 with Wales and Denmark)
- Thursday 6 September - Wales v Republic of Ireland – Kick off 7.45pm
- Saturday 13 October - Republic of Ireland v Denmark – Kick off 7.45pm
- Tuesday 16 October - Republic of Ireland v Wales – Kick off 7.45pm
- Monday 19 November - Denmark v Republic of Ireland – Kick off 7.45pm
Wales group fixtures (Group B4 with Republic of Ireland and Denmark)
- Thursday 6 September - Wales v Republic of Ireland – Kick off 7.45pm
- Sunday 9 September - Denmark v Wales - Kick off 5pm
- Tuesday 16 October - Republic of Ireland v Wales – Kick off 7.45pm
- Friday 16 November - Wales v Denmark - Kick off 7.45pm
Scotland group fixtures (Group C1 with Israel and Albania)
- Monday 10 September – Scotland v Albania – Kick off 7.45pm
- Thursday 11 October – Israel v Scotland – Kick off 7.45pm
- Saturday 17 November – Albania v Scotland – Kick off 7.45pm
- Tuesday 20 November – Scotland v Israel – Kick off 7.45pm
