Malta stands to gain from newly-approved UEFA Nations League

Malta may find itself playing against some of the leading European teams after UEFA approved the launch of a Nations League from 2018. The new tournament, which will see smaller nations such as Malta take part, will be played every second year after it received unanimous support from UEFA’s 54 member associations in Kazakhstan.

Countries can win qualifying places for the 2020 European Championship if they perform well in the league, which will replace the majority of friendlies.

The exact format of the competition is yet to finalised, but is expected to feature 54 countries split into four divisions according to rankings, with promotion and relegation.

“We accept and respect that all UEFA member associations have agreed to create a new competition,” said Wolfgang Niersbach, chairman of the National Teams Competition Committee.

“This is a big step for national teams in Europe and we hope that fans will support the format,” he said.

UEFA president Michel Platini announced the new competition at a press conference and said it would replace friendlies that “nobody wants”.

“The friendlies don’t really interest anybody - neither the fans nor the players nor the media and nor the national associations,” he said.

The timing of the Nations League could conflict with proposals to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter, however.

“I think we will adapt ourselves - the World Cup is the priority. I don’t know when it will take place in 2022 but we will organise this with respect to those dates,” he added.