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UEFA Nations League
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Northern Ireland at Euro 2022
William Cherry/Presseye
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Keith Bailie
Northern Ireland are likely to play in League B of Women’s Nations League, when UEFA’s new tournament kicks off next year.
The competition, which will link into qualification for the European Championship and the World Cup, will start in autumn 2023.
As with the men’s Nations League, countries will be divided into leagues based on their ranking, with promotion and relegation between the leagues.
UEFA confirmed there would be three tiers with teams playing in groups of three or four within those tiers.
Although UEFA is yet to decide the exact format for the competition, Kenny Shiels’ team is likely to be in League B as they are currently ranked 27th in Europe.
European champions England will be joined by the likes of France, Germany and Spain in League A, while – like Northern Ireland – Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland are expected to be placed in League B.
League C will feature minnows of the women’s game, such as Luxembourg and Latvia.
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UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin: “I said this summer that we would continue to invest in women’s football, and we are.
“Off the back of a historic UEFA Women’s Euro, it is now time to further develop women’s national team football. We have built an open, competitive, and continuous system in which every match will matter, a true reflection of the European sports model.
“I am convinced that this format will help all European national associations and keep the dream of qualifying for a major international tournament alive.”
The new formats were officially ratified by UEFA’s ruling executive committee on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland women will hope to perform better than their male counterparts in the Nations League. Since the men’s competition was launched in 2018, Northern Ireland have registered just one victory in 16 games.
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