When Sweden, after many ups and downs, made it to the World Cup in North America this summer, it was through the lifeline the national team received thanks to success in the Nations League.
On Friday evening, Sweden begins the group stage in Nations League B - and even now the results are important to provide the best conditions for reaching Euro 2028.
+ This applies to the European Championship qualifiers
The draw for the European Championship qualifiers will be held in Belfast on 6 December, with 54 teams divided into twelve groups. The qualifiers will begin in March next year and end in November. The twelve group winners and the eight best runners-up will secure a place in the European Championship.
The four host nations - England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland - participate in the qualifiers. Two European Championship places are reserved for the highest-ranked host nations that fail to qualify on their own.
After that, there are two to four European Championship places to play for - and that is when it is an advantage to have played well in the Nations League. In addition to the four worst group runners-up in the European Championship qualifiers, the highest-ranked group winners from the Nations League will also play a playoff for the remaining places in the European Championship.
+ This applies to the next Nations League
How things go in this autumn's Nations League is also important for the next edition of the competition, which will be decided in 2028/2029.
If Sweden finishes first in the group, promotion to the A division awaits.
If Sweden finishes second in the group, a playoff awaits in March 2027 against a third-place team or a fourth-place team from the A division, for promotion to the A division.
If Sweden finishes third in the group, further play awaits in the B division.
If Sweden finishes fourth in the group, a playoff awaits in March 2027 against a second-place team from the C division, to remain in the B division.
+ Sweden's matches in the Nations League
September 25: Romania (home).
September 28: Poland (home).
October 2: Bosnia-Herzegovina (away).
October 5: Romania (away).
November 14: Bosnia-Herzegovina (home).
November 17: Poland (away).
