The UEFA Nations League is again for its fifth version, with 54 European international locations competing for silverware, promotion and a doubtlessly essential path to Euro 2028.
Portugal are the defending champions after beating Spain on penalties within the 2025 last, whereas England wish to win the competitors for the primary time beneath Thomas Tuchel.
However there may be greater than a trophy at stake. Outcomes can decide which division groups compete in in the course of the subsequent marketing campaign, whereas performances might even have a big impression on qualification for the European championship.
From how the format works to the promotion and relegation guidelines, here is every little thing you’ll want to know in regards to the UEFA Nations League.
What’s the UEFA Nations League?
The UEFA Nations League is a world competitors involving Europe’s nationwide groups, designed to interchange most of the conventional worldwide friendlies with aggressive fixtures.
First launched in 2018, the match offers nations the chance to compete towards groups of the same commonplace, with promotion, relegation and a trophy on supply.
The competitors is split into 4 leagues – A, B, C and D – with League A containing the highest-ranked nations.
Portugal are essentially the most profitable staff within the competitors, having received the title twice, in 2019 and 2025.
France and Spain have additionally lifted the trophy, in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
Portugal are the present holders of the Nations League
How does the Nations League work?
The 2026/27 Nations League options 54 nations divided into 4 leagues.
Leagues A, B and C every include 16 groups, cut up into 4 teams of 4. League D consists of six groups, divided into two teams of three.
Groups play every opponent of their group twice, dwelling and away, with factors figuring out the ultimate standings.
Three factors are awarded for a win and one for a draw.
The highest two in every League A bunch qualify for the quarter-finals, whereas the winners of these ties progress to the Nations League Finals in June 2027.
The underside sides and groups ending in different promotion and relegation positions will face a distinct problem, with their performances figuring out which league they compete in in the course of the subsequent version.
How do promotion and relegation work?
Promotion and relegation are central to the Nations League, giving groups one thing to play for all through the group stage, no matter their place within the rankings.
The 4 group winners in League B can be promoted on to League A, whereas the 4 group winners in League C will transfer as much as League B.
Groups ending backside of their respective teams additionally face the prospect of dropping down a division.
Nevertheless, the 2026/27 marketing campaign encompasses a barely totally different system as UEFA prepares to alter the competitors format for 2028/29.
The 2 lowest-ranked fourth-placed groups in League A can be routinely relegated to League B.
The opposite groups concerned within the League A/B promotion and relegation battle will contest play-offs.
These will contain the 4 runners-up from League B towards the 2 lowest-ranked third-placed groups and the 2 highest-ranked fourth-placed groups from League A.
The winners will play in League A in 2028/29, with the defeated groups competing in League B.
The same system operates between Leagues B and C, with the 4 bottom-placed groups in League B going through the 4 runners-up from League C.
The winners will play in League B within the subsequent version, whereas the defeated groups will drop into League C.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his facet’s opening objective in the course of the Nations League match towards Croatia
When are the 2026/27 Nations League finals?
The league part runs from September to November 2026, with the ultimate two rounds of group matches going down in the course of the November worldwide break.
The League 1 / 4-finals, alongside the League A/B and League B/C promotion and relegation play-offs, will happen between March 25 and March 30, 2027.
The Nations League Finals will then be held between June 9 and June 13, 2027.
The match will function two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the ultimate, with 4 nations competing to be topped champions of Europe.
The place will the Nations League last be held?
The 2027 UEFA Nations League Finals will happen between June 9 and June 13, 2027.
The host nation and stadiums are but to be confirmed by UEFA. The 4 groups that progress via the quarter-finals in March will compete for the trophy, with the semi-finals, third-place play-off and last deciding the champions.
When is the Nations League knockout stage draw?
The UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off draw will happen at 12:00 CET on Friday, November 20, 2026, following the conclusion of the league part.
The draw will decide the quarter-final and promotion/relegation play-off ties, with groups from the identical group unable to face one another within the quarter-finals.
The eight groups ending within the prime two of the 4 League A teams will progress to the quarter-finals, which can be performed over two legs in March 2027.
The 4 winners will then advance to the Nations League Finals in June 2027, with the semi-finals, third-place play-off and last deciding the champions.
What in regards to the House Nations and the Republic of Eire?
Harry Kane celebrates scoring for England towards Croatia within the Nations League
The Nations League presents loads of challenges for the 5 British and Irish nations, with England and Wales competing in League A, whereas Scotland, Northern Eire and the Republic of Eire are in League B.
England face Croatia and Spain, whereas Wales tackle Norway and Portugal.
Scotland meet North Macedonia and Switzerland, Northern Eire face Ukraine and Hungary, and the Republic of Eire play Kosovo and Austria.
The outcomes will decide who reaches the knockout phases, earns promotion or faces relegation.
What’s altering within the Nations League from 2028/29?
The 2026/27 Nations League is the ultimate version to function 4 divisions.
UEFA has accepted a change to a three-league format for the 2028/29 competitors, that means League D can be scrapped.
All six groups at present competing in League D will routinely transfer as much as League C.
The brand new construction will function three leagues, every containing 18 groups cut up into three teams of six.
Groups will play six matches within the league part, with the revised format designed to create a extra streamlined competitors.
The composition of every division can be decided by ends in the 2026/27 Nations League.
League A will include the eight quarter-finalists from the present version, the 2 highest-ranked third-placed groups from League A, the 4 League B group winners and the 4 winners of the League A/B play-offs.
League B will embrace the 2 lowest-ranked fourth-placed groups from League A, the 4 defeated groups from the League A/B play-offs, the 4 third-placed groups from League B, the 4 League C group winners and the 4 winners of the League B/C play-offs.
League C will encompass the 4 defeated groups from the League B/C play-offs, the eight groups ending third and fourth in League C, and the six groups at present in League D.
Does the Nations League have an effect on Euro 2028 qualifying?
Sure.
The Nations League will play an vital position within the qualification course of for Euro 2028, which can be hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Eire.
The ultimate Nations League rankings will decide the seeding of countries for the European Championship qualifying draw.
The competitors will even supply a possible second probability to achieve the match via the play-offs.
Twenty-four groups will compete at Euro 2028. Twelve qualifying group winners and the eight greatest runners-up will safe computerized locations, with the remaining runners-up getting into the play-offs.
Nations League group winners who fail to complete within the prime two of their Euro 2028 qualifying group will even be eligible for a play-off place.
These locations will initially be allotted to the best-ranked group winners from Leagues A, B and C. If extra locations are required, they’ll filter right down to the next-highest-ranked eligible groups.
The system means a powerful Nations League marketing campaign might show decisive for international locations who wrestle within the conventional qualifying course of.