UEFA Nations League: All you need to know

The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League is under way, with Portugal defending their title and England chasing a first triumph. But how does the competition work, what are the promotion and relegation rules, and what changes from 2028/29?

The UEFA Nations League is back for its fifth edition, with 54 European countries competing for silverware, promotion and a potentially crucial route to Euro 2028.

Portugal are the defending champions after beating Spain on penalties in the 2025 final , while England are looking to win the competition for the first time under Thomas Tuchel.

But there is more than a trophy at stake. Results can determine which division teams compete in during the next campaign, while performances could also have a significant impact on qualification for the European championship.

From how the format works to the promotion and relegation rules, here's everything you need to know about the UEFA Nations League.

The UEFA Nations League is an international competition involving Europe's national teams, designed to replace many of the traditional international friendlies with competitive fixtures.

First introduced in 2018, the tournament gives nations the opportunity to compete against teams of a similar standard, with promotion, relegation and a trophy on offer.

The competition is divided into four leagues - A, B, C and D - with League A containing the highest-ranked nations.

Portugal are the most successful team in the competition, having won the title twice, in 2019 and 2025.

France and Spain have also lifted the trophy, in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

The 2026/27 Nations League features 54 nations divided into four leagues.

Leagues A, B and C each contain 16 teams, split into four groups of four. League D consists of six teams, divided into two groups of three.

Teams play each opponent in their group twice, home and away, with points determining the final standings.

The top two in each League A group qualify for the quarter-finals, while the winners of those ties progress to the Nations League Finals in June 2027.

The bottom sides and teams finishing in other promotion and relegation positions will face a different challenge, with their performances determining which league they compete in during the next edition.

Promotion and relegation are central to the Nations League, giving teams something to play for throughout the group stage, regardless of their position in the rankings.

The four group winners in League B will be promoted directly to League A, while the four group winners in League C will move up to League B.

Teams finishing bottom of their respective groups also face the prospect of dropping down a division.

However, the 2026/27 campaign features a slightly different system as UEFA prepares to change the competition format for 2028/29.

The two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams in League A will be automatically relegated to League B.

The other teams involved in the League A/B promotion and relegation battle will contest play-offs.

These will involve the four runners-up from League B against the two lowest-ranked third-placed teams and the two highest-ranked fourth-placed teams from League A.

The winners will play in League A in 2028/29, with the defeated teams competing in League B.

A similar system operates between Leagues B and C, with the four bottom-placed teams in League B facing the four runners-up from League C.

The winners will play in League B in the next edition, while the defeated teams will drop into League C.

The league phase runs from September to November 2026, with the final two rounds of group matches taking place during the November international break.

The League A quarter-finals, alongside the League A/B and League B/C promotion and relegation play-offs, will take place between March 25 and March 30, 2027.

The Nations League Finals will then be held between June 9 and June 13, 2027.

The tournament will feature two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final, with four nations competing to be crowned champions of Europe.

The 2027 UEFA Nations League Finals will take place between June 9 and June 13, 2027.

The host nation and stadiums are yet to be confirmed by UEFA. The four teams that progress through the quarter-finals in March will compete for the trophy, with the semi-finals, third-place play-off and final deciding the champions.

The UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off draw will take place at 12:00 CET on Friday, November 20, 2026, following the conclusion of the league phase.

The draw will determine the quarter-final and promotion/relegation play-off ties, with teams from the same group unable to face each other in the quarter-finals.

The eight teams finishing in the top two of the four League A groups will progress to the quarter-finals, which will be played over two legs in March 2027.

The four winners will then advance to the Nations League Finals in June 2027, with the semi-finals, third-place play-off and final deciding the champions.

The Nations League offers plenty of challenges for the five British and Irish nations, with England and Wales competing in League A, while Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are in League B.

England face Croatia and Spain, while Wales take on Norway and Portugal.

Scotland meet North Macedonia and Switzerland, Northern Ireland face Ukraine and Hungary, and the Republic of Ireland play Kosovo and Austria.

The results will determine who reaches the knockout stages, earns promotion or faces relegation.

The 2026/27 Nations League is the final edition to feature four divisions.