Italy handed Nations League relegation reprieve as UEFA confirms rule changes

The UEFA Nations League trophy is displayed prior to the start of the 2023 UEFA Nations League football finals draw in Nyon, Switzerland, on January 25, 2023. The draw determines the semi-final pairings for the four-team 2023 UEFA Nations League football finals in Rotterdam and Enschede, as semi-finals will be played on June 14 and June 15, 2023, with the third-place play-off and final both on June 18, 2023. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) (Italy) San Marino

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.

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.

Roberto Mancini’s side face four matches in 11 days, starting with Belgium in Rome on 25 September.