After yesterday’s draw in Paris, UEFA confirmed the schedule for the league phase of the 2024/25 Nations League this morning. Having been inserted in Group A2, the Azzurri will begin their journey in France on Friday 6 September before taking on Israel in another away game three days later. In October, two games in Italy await, first against Belgium (10 October) and then the return fixture against the Israelis (14 October). The Azzurri’s final game will be at home to France on 17 November, which will be played three days after they’ve visited Belgium.

It's certainly a tough group for Italy, who made it to the Finals in the last two editions of the competition (finishing third on both occasions) and now have another challenge to look forward to once they’ve tried to defend their European title at this summer’s Euros in Germany.

THE AZZURRI’S OPPONENTS. 

France, who finished runners-up at the last World Cup and sit second in the FIFA Ranking, were in Pot 3 for the draw. From David Trezeguet’s golden goal in the EURO 2000 final through to Italy’s penalty shootout victory in the 2006 World Cup final, matches between the Azzurri and France have made football history. The teams have met on 40 occasions: Italy have 19 wins to their name compared to Les Bleus’ eleven, with ten draws completing the picture. Italy also have a favourable record against Belgium (16 wins, four draws and four defeats), who they beat in the Euros in 2016 and 2021 and also in the 2020/21 Nations League third-place play-off. As for Israel, who were in Pot 4, they were promoted from League B in the last edition of the competition and will be involved in the EURO 2024 play-offs in March. Italy have won four of their previous five encounters with the Israelis, drawing the other game.

UPDATED FORMAT. 
From September to November 2024, Italy will play six matches against the three opponents in their group. This time around, the League A group winners and runners-up will participate in home-and-away quarter-finals in March 2025, with the winners of these ties qualifying for the Final Four (in June 2025). The team that finishes fourth will be relegated to League B, while the third-place side will be involved in a relegation play-off against a runner-up from League B.

League A
Group A1: Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Scotland
Group A2: ITALY, Belgium, France, Israel
Group A3: Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group A4: Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia

Italy’s 2024/25 UEFA Nations League schedule

6 September 2024: France vs. Italy
9 September 2024: Israel vs. Italy
10 October 2024: Italy vs. Belgium
14 October 2024: Italy vs. Israel
14 November 2024: Belgium vs. Italy
17 November 2024: Italy vs. France

Knockout round play-off draw: November 2024
Knockout round play-offs: 20-25 March 2025
League A quarter-finals: 20-25 March 2025
Final tournament: 4-8 June 2025