Nations League Tickets

UEFA Nations League 2026/2027

The UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 is the fifth edition of UEFA's international football competition, bringing together Europe's national teams to compete for the prestigious Nations League trophy. The tournament features 54 national teams divided into four leagues, with promotion, relegation and qualification for the knockout stages adding importance to every match.

The 2026/27 edition began on 24 September 2026, with the league phase running until 17 November 2026. The competition will continue with League A quarter-finals in March 2027, followed by the Nations League Finals from 9 to 13 June 2027, when Europe's next Nations League champion will be crowned.

UEFA Nations League History – 2018 to 2025

2018/19 – Portugal's First Triumph: Portugal won the inaugural UEFA Nations League, defeating the Netherlands 1–0 in the final in Porto. Gonçalo Guedes scored the decisive goal, giving Portugal the first Nations League trophy and establishing the competition's inaugural champion.

2020/21 – France Become Champions: France secured their first Nations League title by defeating Spain 2–1 in the final in Milan. Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé scored for France after Spain had taken the lead, giving the French national team another major international trophy.

2022/23 – Spain's First Title: Spain became Nations League champions for the first time after defeating Croatia in a penalty shootout. Following a goalless final, Spain won 5–4 on penalties, with goalkeeper Unai Simón making important saves during the shootout.

2024/25 – Portugal Win Their Second Title: Portugal defeated Spain in the final after a 2–2 draw that continued through extra time. Portugal won 5–3 on penalties, becoming the first country to claim two UEFA Nations League titles.

UEFA Nations League Winners

2019 – Portugal: Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in Porto to become the first Nations League champions.

2021 – France: France defeated Spain 2–1 in Milan, winning their first Nations League championship.

2023 – Spain: Spain defeated Croatia 5–4 on penalties after a goalless final in Rotterdam.

2025 – Portugal: Portugal defeated Spain 5–3 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in Munich, securing their second title.

UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 Format

The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League features four leagues: League A, League B, League C and League D. National teams compete in groups within their respective leagues, with results determining progression, promotion and relegation.

League A: The top division features 16 national teams divided into four groups. The group winners and runners-up qualify for the quarter-finals in March 2027. The quarter-final winners advance to the Nations League Finals in June, where they compete for the championship.

League B: Sixteen teams compete in four groups, with group winners earning promotion to League A. The runners-up enter promotion and relegation play-offs, while the fourth-placed teams face the relevant relegation play-offs.

League C: Sixteen national teams compete in four groups. The group winners earn promotion to League B, while the runners-up participate in promotion play-offs. Teams also compete to avoid relegation-related fixtures.

League D: Six national teams compete in two groups. All teams in League D are scheduled to move into League C for the 2028/29 edition as part of UEFA's planned competition restructuring.

UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 Groups

League A – Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium and Türkiye.

League A – Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia and Greece.

League A – Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England and Czechia.

League A – Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Wales.

League B – Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia and North Macedonia.

League B – Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia and Northern Ireland.

League B – Group B3: Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland and Kosovo.

League B – Group B4: Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Sweden.

League C – Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus and San Marino.

League C – Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus and Latvia.

League C – Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands and Moldova.

League C – Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia and Luxembourg.

League D – Group D1: Gibraltar, Malta and Andorra.

League D – Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.

UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 Important Dates

24–29 September 2026: The opening two matchdays of the league phase will feature international fixtures across all four leagues.

30 September–6 October 2026: Matchdays three and four will take place during an extended international window, giving teams the opportunity to play four matches in a short period.

12–17 November 2026: The final two matchdays of the league phase will determine group positions, quarter-final places and promotion and relegation outcomes.

25–30 March 2027: League A quarter-finals and the relevant League A/B and League B/C promotion and relegation play-offs will take place.

9–13 June 2027: The Nations League Finals will feature the four remaining teams competing in the semi-finals, third-place match and final.

UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 League A

League A brings together 16 of Europe's leading national teams. Divided into four groups, the competition features several major international rivalries, including France against Italy, Germany against the Netherlands, England against Spain and Portugal against Denmark.

The group winners and runners-up will advance to the quarter-finals in March 2027. The quarter-finals will be played over two legs, with the winners progressing to the final tournament in June. The four finalists will compete for the Nations League trophy.

UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 League B, C and D

League B: League B provides an opportunity for national teams to challenge for promotion to the top division. The group stage also determines which teams enter the promotion and relegation play-offs.

League C: League C features teams competing for promotion to League B and a chance to improve their position in European international football. The group matches also determine which teams participate in the relevant play-offs.

League D: League D offers competitive international fixtures for its participating nations. Teams will compete in two groups, with their results contributing to the restructuring of the Nations League for the 2028/29 edition.

Best UEFA Nations League Performances Till Now

Portugal – 2019: Portugal produced an impressive campaign to win the inaugural Nations League. Their 1–0 victory over the Netherlands in the final, courtesy of Gonçalo Guedes, secured the first trophy in the competition's history.

France – 2021: France delivered a memorable final against Spain, coming from behind to win 2–1. Goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé secured the championship and highlighted France's attacking strength.

Spain – 2023: Spain defeated Croatia on penalties after a closely contested goalless final. The victory secured Spain's first Nations League title and added another international trophy to their football history.

Portugal – 2025: Portugal claimed their second Nations League title after a dramatic final against Spain. Their 5–3 penalty shootout victory following a 2–2 draw made Portugal the competition's first two-time champions.

Spain – 2025: Spain reached their second consecutive Nations League final in 2025 after winning the 2023 edition. Their campaign included another final against Portugal, decided by a penalty shootout.

Most Successful Teams in UEFA Nations League History

Portugal: Portugal have won the competition twice, in 2019 and 2025. They remain the only national team to have secured two Nations League championships.

France: France won the 2021 edition, defeating Spain in the final. Their title was an important addition to the country's international football achievements.

Spain: Spain won their first Nations League title in 2023 and reached the finals in both 2021 and 2025. Their consistent appearances in the latter stages have made them one of the most prominent teams in the competition.

UEFA Nations League and European Football

The UEFA Nations League has become an important part of the European international football calendar since its introduction in 2018. It was designed to replace many international friendlies with competitive fixtures between teams of comparable levels.

The league structure gives national teams meaningful objectives throughout the competition. Promotion and relegation provide opportunities for teams to progress between divisions, while League A offers a direct route to the Nations League Finals.

The competition also provides valuable international experience for emerging footballers and established players. Its regular fixtures create opportunities for national coaches to assess their squads while competing for trophies and improving their teams' positions.

UEFA Nations League and Euro 2028 Qualification

The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League will also be connected to the qualification pathway for UEFA Euro 2028. Nations League results will provide certain teams with an additional route into the Euro 2028 play-offs, depending on the qualification outcomes and the available places.

This connection gives the competition added importance beyond winning the Nations League trophy. Teams will have opportunities to improve their international standing while potentially securing another route towards the European Championship.

Why UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 Is Special

The UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 brings together Europe's leading national teams and developing football nations in a competition featuring meaningful international fixtures. The tournament combines established rivalries, promotion battles and a route to the Nations League championship.

Portugal will enter the competition as defending champions after winning their second title in 2025. France and Spain, both previous winners, will also compete in League A alongside England, Germany, Italy and other major European national teams.

The 2026/27 edition also features a significant change to the competition's future structure, with UEFA planning to move to three leagues from 2028/29. Promotion and relegation arrangements in this edition have therefore been adjusted to prepare for that transition.

With the league phase concluding in November 2026, quarter-finals scheduled for March 2027 and the Finals taking place in June, the UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 will provide a full season of competitive European international football.