UEFA Nations League 2026-27: How It Works, Format, Teams and Dates

The UEFA Nations League returns for its fifth edition, with 54 teams competing across four leagues and several important changes on the horizon.

The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League is set to begin on September 24, bringing another round of competitive international fixtures to the European football calendar.

Portugal enter the tournament as defending champions after defeating Spain on penalties in the 2025 final.

The competition will once again provide nations with the opportunity to compete against teams of a similar level, while also offering promotion, relegation and potential qualification routes for future tournaments.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League.

When Does the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League Start?

The league phase will take place between September 24 and November 17, 2026.

The knockout play-offs and League A quarter-finals will then be held between March 25 and March 30, 2027, before the Nations League Finals take place from June 9 to June 13.

The final is scheduled for June 13, 2027.

How Does the UEFA Nations League 2026-27 Format Work?

The 54 participating teams are divided into four leagues: League A, League B, League C and League D.

League A contains the highest-ranked nations, while the remaining teams compete across the other three divisions.

League A

League A features 16 teams split into four groups of four.

Each nation plays the other teams in its group twice, once at home and once away.

The top two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, where the eight nations compete over two legs.

The four quarter-final winners then progress to the Nations League Finals, which consist of:

• Two semi-finals
• A third-place play-off
• The final

The two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams in League A are relegated to League B.

The two lowest-ranked third-placed teams and two highest-ranked fourth-placed teams will face the four League B runners-up in League A/B promotion and relegation play-offs.

Leagues B, C And D

Teams in Leagues B and C will compete for promotion and relegation, while all League D teams will be promoted to League C.

The 2026-27 tournament will be the final edition to feature League D. 

From 2028-29 onwards, the Nations League will move from four leagues to three leagues of 18 teams each.

Which Teams Are in Each UEFA Nations League 2026-27 Group?

The teams competing in the four leagues are:

League A

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

League B

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

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

League D

Gibraltar, Malta, Andorra, Lithuania, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.

What Has Changed in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League?

One of the key changes to the league phase is an extended international window between September 24 and October 6.

Teams will play four Nations League fixtures during this period, before returning for their final two group matches in November.

The competition is also expected to be linked to qualification for Euro 2028, with certain teams potentially receiving another route into the tournament’s play-offs.

The Nations League was originally introduced to reduce the number of international friendlies and create more competitive matches between similarly matched nations.

When Do England Begin Their 2026-27 Nations League Campaign?

England will compete in League A Group A3 alongside Spain, Croatia and Czechia.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will begin their campaign against Spain on September 26.

Their opening fixtures are:

England will be aiming to finish in the top two of their group to secure a place in the League A quarter-finals.

Who Has Won the UEFA Nations League? Winners List

Only three nations have won the UEFA Nations League since its introduction.

• Portugal: 2019 and 2025
• France: 2021
• Spain: 2023

Portugal are the most successful team in the competition’s history, having claimed the trophy twice.