UEFA Outlines New Nations League Format and Qualification Rules

UEFA has outlined the structural changes and qualification permutations for the UEFA Nations League, featuring a revamped system of promotion and relegation ahead of the 2026/27 campaign and a restructured three-league format starting in the 2028/29 season.

With the league phase drawing toward its conclusion, groups across League A, League B, League C, and League D hang in the balance, governed by Article 15 of the tournament regulations for ties on points.

According to UEFA regulations, teams level on points are separated first by head-to-head points, followed by head-to-head goal difference and head-to-head goals scored. If those metrics fail to separate the sides, overall goal difference, overall goals scored, away goals scored, total wins, away wins, disciplinary points, and finally the access list position determine the final standings.

Italy and France Lead League a Group 1

In League A Group 1, Italy and France lead the table with 10 points each, closely followed by Belgium with 9 points and Turkey with 0. Italy secures first place with a win, or a draw combined with a French failure to win, while avoiding defeat against Belgium guarantees qualification. France advances if they avoid defeat against Turkey or if Belgium fails to beat Italy.

Group 2 sees the Netherlands and Greece level on 8 points, with Germany at 5 and Serbia at 0. The Netherlands advances by defeating Greece while Germany fails to win, or by drawing if Germany loses. Greece claims the group title with a win over the Netherlands, or a draw combined with a German failure to beat Serbia.

Spain tops Group 3 with 15 points and has already qualified for the quarter-finals alongside England, who sit on 12 points. Croatia holds 3 points and Chequia has 0. Spain secures the group victory by avoiding defeat against England, while Croatia stays third if they avoid defeat against Chequia.

In Group 4, Portugal leads with 12 points and has booked its quarter-final spot, needing only a draw against Denmark to seal first place. Denmark sits on 6 points, while Wales and Norway each have 3 points. Denmark qualifies by defeating Portugal and seeing Norway fail to beat Wales.

Switzerland and Northern Ireland Pursue League B Promotion

Switzerland paces Group 1 with 12 points and needs only a draw against Slovenia to confirm promotion to League A. Slovenia sits second with 7 points, Scotland has 4, and North Macedonia has 0. Slovenia secures a top-two finish by defeating Switzerland, or if both group matches end in draws.

Northern Ireland leads Group 2 with 8 points, ahead of Hungary with 7, Ukraine with 4, and Georgia with 2. Northern Ireland secures promotion by defeating Ukraine combined with a Hungarian loss to Georgia. Hungary advances to the top two by beating Georgia and seeing Ukraine drop points.

Group 3 features Austria with 8 points, Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland with 5 each, and Israel with 2. Austria seals promotion by defeating the Republic of Ireland, whereas Kosovo avoids direct relegation by beating Israel.

Sweden tops Group 4 with 10 points, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina with 8, Poland with 4, and Romania with 0. Sweden guarantees promotion with a victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina or by drawing if Poland fails to beat Romania.

Albania and Montenegro Secure Promotion from League C

In League C Group 1, Albania leads with 12 points and Belarus has 10, with both already securing top-two finishes. Albania wins promotion with a draw against Belarus. Montenegro has already clinched Group 2 and promotion to League B with 13 points, leaving Cyprus in second place for the play-offs.

Eslovaquia leads Group C3 with 10 points and secures promotion by avoiding defeat against the Faroe Islands. In Group C4, Islandia leads with 8 points and faces Bulgaria, while Estonia sits on 6 points ahead of a fixture against Luxembourg.

Across League D, all participating nations are slated to move up to League C under the updated tournament design. Malta leads Group D1 with 7 points ahead of Gibraltar and Andorra, while Azerbaijan paces Group D2 with 5 points ahead of Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

Tiebreaking Criteria and Next Checkpoints

Article 15 of the UEFA regulations dictates that disciplinary points are calculated as 3 points for a red card, 1 point for a yellow card, and 3 points for a dismissal following two yellow cards. The competition updates conclude following the final round of league fixtures.

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