Archive · 5 Oct 2026
AFC Nations League Format Could Complicate India's World Cup Hopes
The AFC plans to start a Nations League with three levels of teams.
Teams will be ranked within each level.
The best two teams in the second and third levels will move up.
The bottom two teams in the first and second levels will move down.
Some other teams will have to play matches to decide whether they move down.
In levels two and three, teams ranked third to sixth will take part in those playoffs.
In levels one and two, teams ranked 13th to 16th will also take part.
The article suggests the new competition could affect India's World Cup hopes, but it does not explain how.
The AFC is set to introduce a Nations League with three tiers.
At the end of each edition, the top two teams in tiers two and three will be promoted.
The bottom two teams in tiers one and two will be relegated.
Teams ranked third through sixth in tiers two and three will enter relegation playoffs.
Teams ranked 13th through 16th in tiers one and two will also enter relegation playoffs.
- Who
- The AFC and the teams competing in its proposed Nations League.
- What
- A three-tier Nations League with promotion, relegation, and relegation playoffs.
- When
- At the end of each edition.
- Where
- Not specified in the provided text.
- Why
- The article raises the possibility that the competition could affect India's FIFA World Cup hopes, but gives no explanation.
- Competition
- AFC Nations League
- Number of tiers
- Three
- Promotion
- The top two teams in tiers two and three are promoted.
- Relegation
- The bottom two teams in tiers one and two are relegated.
- Playoffs in tiers two and three
- Teams ranked third through sixth enter relegation playoffs.
- Playoffs in tiers one and two
- Teams ranked 13th through 16th enter relegation playoffs.