UEFA have announced the approval of a new national team competition system that will change the qualification paths for European women’s teams for tournaments, including the Euros and World Cup.

The goal of the new system is to transform competitions in line with UEFA’s Women’s Football Strategy: Time For Action, where it commits to a five-year framework with the aim of supporting, guiding and lifting women’s football in Europe.

The new system will create a Nations League, a three-tiered competition where national teams will play home-and-away games in groups of four with a promotion and relegation system in place, which allows smaller nations to play against comparable opposition and climb the rankings of European football.

The Nations League will culminate in a finals tournament which will determine a winner and, every four years, will determine the European qualifiers for the Olympic Games.

Results from the Nations League will also become the starting league positions for European qualifiers, where final rankings will determine which nations will compete in the Women’s Euros and the Women’s World Cup.

The first time the new format will be played is in the lead up to the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros and aims create a more competitive environment with greater sporting and commercial interest.

Commenting on the new format, UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, said: “I said this summer that we would continue to invest in women’s football, ad we are.”

“Off the back of a historic UEFA Women’s EURO, it is now time to further develop women’s national team football.

“We have built an open, competitive, and continuous system in which every match will matter, a true reflection of the European sports model.

“I am convinced that this format will help all European national associations and keep the dream of qualifying for a major international tournament alive,” he said.

The announcement comes following the renewal of UEFA’s partnership with the European Commission to tackle issues such as, climate action, equality and social inclusion.