The2022–23 UEFA Nations League C was the third division of the2022–23 edition of theUEFA Nations League, the third season of the internationalfootball competition involving the men's national teams of the 55 member associations ofUEFA.
League C consisted of 16 UEFA members ranked from 33–48 in the2022–23 UEFA Nations League access list, split into four groups of four. Each team played six matches within their group, using the home-and-awayround-robin format in June (quadruple matchdays) and September 2022 (double matchdays).[1] The winners of each group were promoted to the2024–25 UEFA Nations League B, and the two worst-ranked fourth-placed teams of each group advanced to the relegation play-outs.[2][3]
As League C had four groups while League D had only two, the League C team that was to be relegated to the2024–25 UEFA Nations League D was determined by play-outs in March 2024.
Originally, all four of the fourth-placed teams would have participated in the play-outs. Based on theNations League overall ranking, the best-ranked team would have faced the fourth-ranked team, and the second-ranked team would have faced the third-ranked team. The two losing teams would have been relegated to League D, while the winners would have remained in League C.[2]
However, due to the ongoing suspension ofRussia from all UEFA competitions and to ensure that League C would still consist of 16 teams,[4] the league allocation for the2024–25 UEFA Nations League was changed so that only one team would be relegated to League D. Based on theNations League overall ranking, the two lowest-ranked teams participated in the play-outs, while the other two fourth-placed teams remained in League C.[3][5]
The play-out tie was played overtwo legs, with the higher-ranked team hosting the second leg. The team that scored more goals on aggregate over the two legs remained in League C while the loser was relegated to League D. If the aggregate score was level,extra time was played without applying theaway goals rule. If still tied after extra time, apenalty shoot-out was used to decide the winner.[2]
In the 2022–23 access list, UEFA ranked teams based on the2020–21 Nations League overall ranking.[6] The seeding pots for the league phase were confirmed on 22 September 2021,[7] and were based on the access list ranking.[2]
^abThe identity of the play-out winners was not known at the time of the draw.
The draw for the league phase took place at the UEFA headquarters inNyon, Switzerland on 16 December 2021, 18:00CET.[8][9] Each group contained one team from each pot. Due to restrictions of excessive travel, each group could contain a maximum of one of the following pairs: Northern Ireland and the winner of the Moldova v Kazakhstan play-out tie, Gibraltar and Azerbaijan.
The two worst-ranked fourth-placed teams of League C participated in the relegation play-outs to determine the team which would be relegated to League D. The relegation play-outs were scheduled on the same dates as theUEFA Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs. If at least one of the teams due to participate in the relegation play-outs had also qualified for the Euro qualifying play-offs, the relegation play-outs would have been cancelled, and the worst-ranked team in League C in theNations League overall ranking would have been automatically relegated.[2] However, this scenario did not occur, and the relegation play-outs progressed as scheduled.
The play-out tie was as follows, with the higher-ranked team hosting the second leg:[2][3]
Times areCET (UTC+1), as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).
The four best teams in League C according to the overall ranking that did not qualify forUEFA Euro 2024 through thequalifying group stage competed in the play-offs, with the winners qualifying for the final tournament.[65]
^Due to the country's involvement in theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Belarus were not allowed to enterSlovakia by local authorities. As a result, the match was played at a neutral venue.
^Gibraltar played their home match at Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal, due to the redevelopment of their regular stadium,Victoria Stadium,Gibraltar.[61]
Georgia
Greece
Kazakhstan
Turkey
Gibraltar
Vedat Muriqi
