UEFA Nations League: Betting guide to the play-off first leg ties

The Nations League play-offs will see 20 teams do battle across two-legged ties with promotion and relegation on the line.

We take a look at all 10 first leg ties, taking place on Thursday evening, and give you an overview of how things are looking from a betting perspective.

League A vs League B

Turkey vs Hungary

Turkey (8/11) will be desperate to build a first-leg advantage when they welcome Hungary (17/4) to Istanbul.

The hosts are looking to earn a place in Group A for the first time ever after an impressive group campaign which saw them finish second in Group B4, just one point behind winners Wales.

Meanwhile, Hungary were no match for Germany and the Netherlands in Group A3 but did finish above Bosnia to earn this chance for a reprieve.

Interestingly, the Hungarians were undefeated in their three group home fixtures (all draws), so will surely fancy their chances of progressing if they can avoid defeat on Thursday night.

But the hosts are excellent on their own patch, having won nine, drawn three and lost only two of their last 14 home internationals stretching back to summer 2022.

Ukraine vs Belgium

The 0-0 draw played out in the Euro 2024 group stages last summer remains the only time these countries have met ahead of Thursday. 

Still, hosts Ukraine (7/2) enter as firm underdogs after enduring a mixed bag in Group B1. 

Two wins, two draws and two losses saw Serhiy Rebrov's men finish second behind the Czech Republic, though those two defeats came in their first two outings. 

Visiting Belgium (7/8) are also in the midst of a dismal run of form, having lost four of their last five matches in the Nations League.

The poor run saw them finish third in Group A2, nine points behind France and Italy in first and second. 

Austria vs Serbia

Austria (5/6) were also made to pay for a slow start to life in Group B3, which condemned them to a play-off meeting with an unfancied Serbia (39/10) side.

Ralf Rangnick's men only took a point from their first two matches against Slovenia and Norway, which meant going unbeaten across their final four matches wasn't enough to secure top spot. 

Nevertheless, Austria will still fancy their chances against a Serbia side which won just one of their six games in an albeit tough Group A4. 

Serbia's only victory came against bottom-placed Switzerland.

Failure to find the back of the net was particularly problematic for the Serbians, who fired a blank in four out of six games.

First call-up since November 2023 🙌

Welcome back, @David_Alaba ❤️#NationsLeague | @oefb1904 pic.twitter.com/vfU7cfe0in

— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) March 11, 2025

Greece vs Scotland

Hosts Greece (21/20) can be forgiven for feeling a little hard done by ahead of their first leg tie with Scotland (33/10). 

The home side only finished second in Group B2 on goal difference after registering an identical record to eventual toppers England (W5, L1). 

In fact, their only blemish was a 3-0 home loss to the English in their pentultimate showing. 

Still, they'll fancy their chances against a Scotland side which could only manage one away win across their Group A1 campaign. 

Indeed, the Scottish's two group wins came in their final two showings after a miserable start to life in the competition.

League B vs League C

Kosovo vs Iceland

Kosovo (27/20) were also unfortunate not to finish top of Group C2 after winning four of their six games. 

The two losses force them into a meeting with an Iceland (12/5) side which finished third in Group B4. 

The hosts were on track for a first-placed finish before a 3-0 defeat to Romania, who did finish top, in their penultimate showing.

Still, Kosovo welcome an Iceland team which lost two of their three away group games and also have only one victory in their last four regardless of the venue. 

Bulgaria vs Republic of Ireland

Bulgaria (9/4) endured a mixed bag of form in Group C3, taking nine points from a possible 18. 

The run left them second, though they did go unbeaten across their three home games (winning one).

Meanwhile, visiting Ireland won only two of their six matches in Group B2 and failed to score in all four of the games they lost.

In fact, their 2-1 win over Finland from October is their only victory in their last five away outings in all competitions.

Squad Update | Andrew Moran and Ryan Manning come into the squad for the UEFA Nations League fixtures against Bulgaria this week 🇮🇪

Will Smallbone and Callum O'Dowda have both withdrawn through injury with Moran and Manning set to train with the squad this morning 👌 pic.twitter.com/upOCZYKzcE

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 17, 2025

Armenia vs Georgia

Armenia (11/4) picked up only two wins in Group C4, which bizarrely occurred in their first and last games. 

They failed to win any of the four in between and their only home victory came against a Latvia side which eventually finished bottom.

The run will give hope to Georgia (21/20), though they only won two of their six games in Group B1. 

The visitors also failed to win any of their last four. 

Slovakia vs Slovenia

Slovakia (6/5) are another side which performed admirably during the groups. 

Francesco Calzona's men won four of their six games while drawing one and losing one of the other two.

In fact, only a 2-1 loss to Sweden in their penultimate outing was enough to condemn them to a second-place finish in Group C1.

This perhaps explains why they're firm favourites against a Slovenia (27/10) side who took only eight points across their six matches. 

Two of their away games ended in victory though, providing some hope ahead of the meeting in Bratislava.