Nations League: New European competition to start in 2018

A "League of Nations" competition intended as a third major tournament for European countries after the World Cup and European Championship has been given the go-ahead by Uefa.
The competition, which starts in September 2018, will also provide four qualifying spots for Euro 2020.
Uefa is still finalising the details but there will be four divisions, sub-divided into four smaller pools.
The top division's four pool winners will then play each other in June 2019.

There will be promotion and relegation between divisions.
The tournament will replace most international friendly fixtures, with pool matches played between September and November 2018 and the 'final four' competition played the following summer.
The opportunity to qualify for the European Championships is intended to make the League of Nations competitive.

The best four teams in each division who have not already qualified for Euro 2020 will play off for the final four places in the tournament.
"Twenty teams will advance from the qualifying competition to the Euro 2020 finals - which are being played in 13 cities around Europe," Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino told delegates at the authority's Congress in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
"That leaves four extra slots to be filled and they will come from four teams from the Nations League who have not otherwise qualified."

On current ranking, England would be in the top division alongside the likes of Spain, Germany and Italy. Each division would then be divided into pools of three or four teams, with the winners of each pool qualifying for a semi-final and final, played at neutral venues.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - ranked 31, 34 and 39 respectively by Uefa - could find themselves playing each other in the third or fourth divisions using the current national team coefficient.
Fifpro, the world footballers' association, is concerned about the added strain it will place on players.

"It should be clear that there is a difference in a friendly match and a competitive match," said director of player services Tijs Tummers.
"The Nations League will be another prestigious competition. As a consequence, that implies an increase in the workload for the group of top players."

While matches will be played on dates reserved for friendlies, there will still be flexibility for smaller countries to arrange high-profile fixtures with bigger European teams and for nations to play friendlies against national sides from outside Europe.

The Football Association has backed the plan, with chairman Greg Dyke saying earlier this month: "The hard thing is the detail but I think a Nations League where we played the top nations would be very attractive."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26762899

Summarize

Four teams from the League of Nations will qualify for Euro 2020

The first tournament is scheduled to begin after the 2018 World Cup

There will be four divisions each divided into four smaller pools, with the top division expected to feature England

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are likely to be together in a third or fourth division

You beat me to it Marcus!

Sounds cool. The work load thrown onto the players who already play in various competitions doesn't sound forgiving, but it's a good idea in my opinion.

I dont know how important would this tournament will be, if he looks loke confederation cup, then no.
Also, if its in the summer i dont know if international players and their Clubs would be motivated to play.
What makes world cup look so special, is the time we wait for it every 4 years...
I have mixed feelings here.

I read an article on goal.com, on Klopps input.
He was not happy, claiming that "it would have been nice if they had talked to the players and coaches, before."
http://www.goal.com/en/news/15/germany/2014/03/27/4713874/klopp-hits-out-at-uefa-over-nations-league?ICID=HP_TS_6

Waste of time and unnecessary effort. I don't see what was wrong with the traditional qualification system of the EURO's. Players will now have to spend more time and effort on this bullsh*t competition, and the EURO's will be played across Europe (which puts a ridiculous amount of strain on players).

It may be more enjoyable to the spectator then the player, but i would really like the drab and lifeless friendlies to be replaced by something meaningful.
Sounds pretty awesome to me, i just hope it makes a buzz with supporters and players alike.

I don't believe the sole purpose of this is to serve as qualification for the Euros. Only the top few teams will actually move to the Euros because of the competition. This will serve as a platform for those lesser nations to actually compete for something. Seeing as they will all fall under a certain division too, they will actually have a chance thus driving them to actually want to compete. Nations like Andorra, Luxembourg, and San Marino come to mind, as well as Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, etc.

I see it as a positive. The work load will definitely increase, but hey! They aren't working a 9-5 anyway. I say make the lads sweat.