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Understanding the UEFA Nations League Structure and Team Divisions for 2026-27

The 2026-27 season of the UEFA Nations League kicks off this Thursday. Since its launch in 2018, the competition has divided national teams into four separate leagues. Each team battles to either climb up or avoid dropping down divisions during every edition.

The top performers in League A advance to play-offs, where they compete for the overall Nations League title. Although strong showings in this tournament can improve a team's odds for World Cup and European Championship qualification, it doesn’t grant automatic entry to those major events.

Teams within Leagues A, B, and C are split into four groups of four, whereas League D contains just six teams divided into two groups.

UEFA also runs a similar Nations League format for women's international football.

Match Schedule and Format Details

From September through November, every team plays home and away matches against the other teams in their group. In League A, the top two teams from each group secure spots in the quarter-finals later in the campaign. Those eight teams then face off in knockout rounds to crown the champion.

In Leagues B, C, and D, only the group winners earn promotion to the next higher league. The bottom teams in Leagues A, B, and C face relegation to a lower division.

Teams finishing second in Leagues B, C, and D enter relegation play-offs against third-place teams from higher leagues. These play-offs happen during the March 2027 international break along with League A’s quarter-finals.

The semi-finals and final will occur in June 2027, alongside the play-off between League C and D teams.

Teams that perform well but miss out on direct qualification for the 2028 European Championships through qualifiers will have a chance to qualify via additional play-offs based on their Nations League results.

Team Breakdown by League and Group

  • League A
  • Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey
  • Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece
  • Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czech Republic
  • Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales
  • Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia
  • Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland
  • Group B3: Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kosovo
  • Group B4: Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden
  • Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino
  • Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia
  • Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova
  • Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg
  • Group D1: Gibraltar, Malta, Andorra
  • Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

Nations League Around the Globe

Beyond Europe, similar Nations League tournaments take place in Asia and North and Central America. South America currently lacks a men's Nations League, though reports in late 2025 hinted that CONMEBOL might be planning to start one. There is, however, a South American Nations League for women’s football.

Africa and Oceania do not yet host Nations League competitions.

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