How does the UEFA Nations League work in 2026-27?

The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League volition beryllium the 5th variation of the competition.

The league signifier of the tourney volition tally from September 24, 2026 until November 17, 2026, with the League A quarter-finals and League A/B and B/C playoffs taking spot betwixt March 25, 2027 and March 30, 2027.

The Nations League Finals volition past instrumentality spot betwixt June 9, 2027 and June 13, 2027, with 54 teams acceptable to vie successful the 2026-27 variation of the tournament.

Portugal are the defending champions, winning the 2025 finals courtesy of a penalty-shootout occurrence implicit existent European and satellite champions Spain.

Only 3 teams person won the Nations League, with Portugal the astir palmy squad with 2 victories (2019 and 2025), portion France won it successful 2021 and Spain successful 2023.

Portugal are the defending UEFA Nations League champions

League A involves 16 teams, divided into 4 groups, with each squad playing location and distant against the other; the apical 2 of each radical volition past beforehand to the quarter-finals.

The 4 winners of the quarter-final affairs volition beforehand to the Nations League Finals, consisting of the semi-finals, a third-place playoff and a final, which is held connected June 13, 2027.

The teams that decorativeness past successful League A volition beryllium straight relegated to League B, portion third-placed teams volition look runners-up of League B to find whether they stay successful League A for the 2028-29 variation of the tourney oregon are relegated to League B.

Sides competing successful Leagues B, C and D are aiming to beryllium promoted, though the 2026-27 Nations League volition beryllium the last variation to see a League D, with a regularisation alteration acceptable to hap for the 2028-29 tournament; the contention volition beryllium reduced from 4 leagues to 3 of 18 teams.

UEFA Nations League: Which teams are successful each League?

League A involves France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece, Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia, Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Wales.

League B involves Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland, Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kosovo, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Sweden.

League C involves Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino, Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova, Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia and Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, League D involves Gibraltar, Malta, Andorra, Lithuania, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.

How is the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League different?

The league signifier of the 2026-27 tourney volition statesman with an extended planetary model betwixt September 24 and October 6, with teams acceptable to play 4 Nations League games.

The contention is besides expected to beryllium straight linked to qualification for Euro 2028, with immoderate teams fixed the accidental to participate the playoffs for the tournament.

The Nations League was brought successful to eradicate alleged meaningless friendlies and springiness well-matched teams the accidental to play competitory encounters.

When volition England statesman their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign?

England volition vie successful Group A3; the Three Lions volition statesman their run against Spain connected September 26, earlier taking connected Czech Republic connected September 29, Croatia connected October 3 and Czech Republic again connected October 6.

Thomas Tuchel's broadside volition past look Croatia connected November 12 and Spain connected November 15.