Ireland could face England in next year's Nations League

Republic of Ireland Alan Browne in action against Wout Weghorst of Netherlands.

Ireland have a 25% chance of meeting England in next year’s UEFA Nations League series after the pots were confirmed ahead of the draw in Paris on February 8.

While the FAI are busily searching to fill the managerial vacancy, they are also shaping their 2024 match calendar in the absence of being part of the major event of the year in Germany - the Euros.

Two friendlies in March are close to being announced, with another pair expected in June against teams preparing for the Euros but the primary business of the men’s team next year is seeking success in the Nations League.

They’ll have to buck their League B record in this fourth edition of UEFA’s latest international series.

Martin O’Neill was the first manager to oversee a team into the competition in 2018, finishing last of three teams behind Denmark and Wales following a winless four-match campaign that eventually led to himself and Roy Keane being sacked.

A subsequent rejigging of the format meant Ireland’s relegation to League C was overturned and Stephen Kenny’s first assignments – either side of the Euro 2021 playoff semi-final against Slovakia – were matches against Bulgaria, Wales and Finland in the four-team group played in front of mostly empty stadia during Covid-19.

Once again, not a win was recorded and only one goal scored as Ireland finished third, concluding with a drab scoreless draw against Bulgaria that avoided finishing bottom and being relegated.

By the time the next instalment rolled around in 2022, Kenny was bullish about topping the group.

The concept enables nations to be drawn with similar-ranked countries but defeat to the lowest seeds in League B, Armenia, all but killed off Kenny’s declaration inside 90 minutes.

One point against Ukraine, one win over Scotland and a late victory at home in the rematch against Armenia meant Ireland once again ended up in third place.

Ireland went on to contest their European Championship qualifiers but Nations League standings were carried through to determine their positions in this newest edition 10 months away.

For Ireland’s League B, they are placed in Pot 2 alongside Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro and will be grouped with one nation apiece from the other three pots.

England are in Pot 1 alongside the three other countries relegated from League A last year. The Three Lions were marooned at the foot of the pool with no wins from six against Italy, Hungary and Germany, extracting just three draws.

Austria, Czech Republic and Wales are the other relegated teams to complete the top tier of Ireland’s available opponents.

Pot 2 features Finland, Ukraine, Iceland and Norway while the bottom Pot, number 4, houses Georgia, Greece, Turkey and Kazakhstan – all of whom earned promotion from League C by winning their groups.

Once the draw is made in eight weeks’ time, Ireland will know their six matchdays in the League phase between September 5 and November 19. Teams play each other on a round-robin basis, home and away.

A leaning by UEFA to enhance the Nations League in place of the friendly matches that used to occupy the dates between qualifying campaigns has seen them add a knockout strand to the 2024 version.

The four group winners in Leagues B and C, as well as the two group winners in League D, are automatically promoted to Leagues A, B and C respectively.

The third-ranked teams of League A and the runners-up of League B, as well as the third-ranked teams of League B and the runners-up of League C, will play a home-and-away promotion/relegation play-off.

There will also be playoffs between the two best-ranked fourth-placed teams from League C and the two runners-up from League D.

Where Ireland finish not only affects their League place in the next NL series, potentially A or C, but will influence their standing in the draw for the 2026 World Cup hosted by America, Canada and Mexico.

UEFA will have an increased presence of 16 teams at the expanded 48-nation showpiece, up by three, and four teams from next year’s Nations League who don’t either qualify directly for the World Cup by topping their pool or snatch a playoff by cementing a runners-up spot will be added to the playoff series.

UEFA Nations League draw on Wednesday, February 8 in Paris:

League A: Pot 1: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands; Pot 2: Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary; Pot 3: Switzerland, Germany, Poland, France; Pot 4: Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Scotland.

League B: Pot 1: Austria, Czech Republic, England, Wales; Pot 2: Finland, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway; Pot 3: Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro; Pot 4: Georgia, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan.

League C: Pot 1: Romania, Sweden, Armenia, Luxembourg; Pot 2: Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands; Pot 3: North Macedonia, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Cyprus; Pot 4: Belarus, Lithuania/Gibraltar*, Estonia, Latvia. 

League D: Pot 1: Lithuania/Gibraltar*, Moldova; Pot 2: Malta, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein.

*To be determined following the 2022/23 playoffs in March 2024 

Nations League Matchdays in 2024: 

Matchday 1: September 5-7; Matchday 2: September 2024 8-10; Matchday 3: October 10-12; Matchday 4: October 13-15; Matchday 5: November 14-16; Matchday 6: November 17-19.