Kenya Sport

Understanding the UEFA Nations League and Its Team Divisions

The 2026-27 edition of the UEFA Nations League kicks off this Thursday. Since its inception in 2018, the tournament has divided European national teams into four leagues. Each campaign sees nations battling for promotion or fighting to avoid relegation. The highest-ranked countries in League A advance to play-offs that decide the overall champion.

While the Nations League can boost a team's chances for World Cup and European Championship qualification, it does not provide a direct path to these major tournaments.

Group Structure Across Leagues

Teams within Leagues A, B, and C are sorted into four groups of four teams each. League D contains just six teams divided into two groups. UEFA also runs a similar competition for women's international football.

Competition Format and Scheduling

From September to November, every team plays home and away matches against others in their group. In League A, the top two teams from each group move on to the quarter-finals, which determine the Nations League champion through knockout rounds.

In Leagues B, C, and D, only group winners earn promotion to the next higher league. Teams finishing last in groups of Leagues A, B, and C face relegation to the lower league. Meanwhile, second-place finishers in Leagues B, C, and D face third-place teams from Leagues A, B, and C in relegation play-offs.

The March 2027 international break hosts League A quarter-finals and relegation play-offs between League A/B and B/C teams. Semi-finals and the final will take place during the June 2027 break, along with the League C/D play-off.

The best Nations League teams missing out on qualification for the 2028 European Championship will enter additional play-offs for the remaining spots.

Team Distribution 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 Outside Europe

Other continents have their own Nations League competitions in Asia as well as in North and Central America. South America currently lacks a men's Nations League, though there were reports in late 2025 about CONMEBOL considering starting one. They do have a Nations League for women's football. Africa and Oceania do not hold Nations League events.

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