Nations League Finals 2020/21 Winner Predictions, Betting Odds

• France, Italy, Belgium, and Spain have qualified for the Nations League Finals
• Portugal won the first-ever edition of the competition in 2019/20
• The tournament has been well received by both big and small nations in Europe

The 2020/21 Nations League campaign will conclude this month, with four teams still standing in the race to win UEFA’s secondary competition. France, Belgium, Italy, and Spain will do battle in October, with both semi-finals and the final set to be held in Milan and Turin.
This is only the second-ever edition of the Nations League, which was created in 2018. The introduction of the competition was controversial, with many labeling it convoluted and complicated, and others deeming it unnecessary and pointless. But while it did take a while for fans to get their heads around the format, it is fair to say that UEFA’s invention has been a success.
The upcoming Finals represent the conclusion of the tournament, but as we will see below the Nations League benefits virtually every European nation – big or small.

Nations League Winner Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook. Click on “Bet Now” below to head to DraftKings and place your bet on the Nations League Winner. Get a $1000 deposit bonus when you sign-up.

Bet on Nations League Finals Here!

Who Will Win Nations League 2020/21?

France and Belgium are joint-favorites to win the Nations League ahead of the Finals. Didier Deschamps remains in charge of the world champions, who suffered a disappointing last-16 exit at the recent European Championship. France’s squad is still packed full of talent, though, and they will be keen to get back on track following that premature departure in the summer.

Belgium will be looking to advance to the final at France’s expense, and they too have a gifted roster to call upon. The other semi-final will be a re-run of the Euro 2020 semi in which Italy beat Spain on penalties. It is a little surprising that Roberto Mancini’s men are the outsiders for the Nations League Finals following their triumph at the Euros. They also have home advantage to call upon, which makes odds of +340 look rather generous.

Who Were the Nations League 2019 Winners?

Portugal won the last edition of the Nations League in 2018/19. They qualified for the Finals by topping a group that also contained Italy and Poland. Cristiano Ronaldo and co. then beat the Switzerland 3-1 in the semi-finals, before registering a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final.

Nations League Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Does the Nations League Work?

The 55 UEFA members are split into four leagues based on their performance in the previous edition of the Nations League. Teams ranked one to 16 compete in League A, 17-32 in League B, 33-48 in League C, and 49-55 in League D. Leagues A, B and C are then divided into four groups containing four teams each. League D is divided into two groups – one containing four teams and another containing three.

Teams play each other side in their group home and away. Those that finish top of the groups in League A qualify for the Nations League Finals. Those that finish top of the groups in League B, League C and League D are promoted to the league above, while those that finish bottom of these groups are relegated to the one below. There is one exception: in League C, relegation play-offs are held between the four bottom-placed teams to determine the two which are relegated to League D.

The Nations League also provides European teams with a second chance to qualify for the European Championship or the World Cup, if they have not done so via the usual method. In 2018/19, for example, four teams from each league who had not already qualified for the European Championship competed in their league’s playoffs. After winning a semi-final and the final of their respective league’s play-offs, Hungary, Slovakia, Scotland and North Macedonia qualified for Euro 2020.

Why Was the Nations League Created?

The primary reason for the creation of the Nations League was to provide European teams with regular, meaningful matches against opponents of a similar standard.

There is something for everyone in this tournament. League A games involving European heavyweights tend to attract the attention of neutrals, but the Nations League has been valuable for sides in League C and League D too. For instance, it has given the likes of San Marino and Andorra an opportunity to take on other minnows, which is far more useful than one-sided contests against Germany or France. The format also provides smaller nations with another potential route into the European Championship and the World Cup, as explained above.

Moreover, players, fans and coaches alike are more engaged by Nations League games than the non-competitive friendlies which clogged up the calendar previously.

How Do You Qualify for the Nations League?

There is no qualification for the Nations League itself; simply being a member of UEFA is sufficient for inclusion in the competition. However, to qualify for the Nations League Finals a team must finish top of one of the four groups in League A, after home and away matches between all group members have been held.

A total of 16 teams participate in League A, which means the vast majority of European nations do not have a chance to reach the Nations League Finals in any given season. The first step towards qualifying for the four-team tournament is therefore to win promotion to League A.

Do Other Continents Have a Nations League?

The CONCACAF Nations League was also launched in 2018 and works in a similar way to UEFA’s version. Forty-one teams participated in the inaugural edition in 2018/19, which was won by the United States. They beat Mexico in the final match of the four-team Finals, with Honduras taking third place and Costa Rica finishing fourth.

What Happens if You Win the Nations League?

The winners of the Nations League receive a trophy that weighs 7.5 kilograms and is made of sterling silver. Portugal, the victors in 2018/19, were additionally awarded €10.5m in prize money.

How can I watch the Nations League on TV?

Soccer fans based in the United States can watch the Nations League on ESPN/Univision.

Bet on Nations League Finals Here!