It’s back! The UEFA Nations League returns for its fifth edition… but how exactly does the tournament work?

To be fair to UEFA bigwigs, the Nations League is one of their better ideas in recent years as run-of-the-mill friendlies that contributed to international breaks being dull as ditchwater are a thing of the past and replaced by competitive action. A total of 54 nations are competing, with 16 in League A trying to win the whole tournament, 16 in League B hoping to rise to the top table and 16 in League C looking to climb to the second tier. The six League D teams were attempting to escape the bottom set, but that’s being dissolved in the next edition so they’re just having a bit of fun with it. Go nuts, lads.

There is a trophy up for grabs, although that is only on offer to the nations in the top tier, which means England and Wales are in contention. The Boys In Green and Scotland, meanwhile, are looking to climb the ranks.

Find UEFA Nations League odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app. Otherwise, the dates and groups for the 2026/27 tournament can be found below.

UEFA Nations League dates

The League Phase of the UEFA Nations League is scheduled to take place between Thursday, 24th September and Tuesday, 17th November.

Matchday 1: 24th–26th September 2026
Matchday 2: 27th-29th September 2026
Matchday 3: 1st-3rd October 2026
Matchday 4: 4th-6th October 2026
Matchday 5: 12th-14th November 2026
Matchday 6: 15th-17th November 2026

The Quarter-Finals for the eight best teams from League A and Play-Offs for League A/B and League B/C are scheduled to take place during the international break in March.

First Leg: 25th-27th March 2027
Second Leg: 28th-30th March 2027

The Finals will be held during the June international break.

Semi-Finals: 9th-10th June 2027
Third Place: 13th June 2027
Final: 13th June 2027

UEFA Nations League groups

The 54 nations are split into 14 groups across four leagues.

LEAGUE A

The top two in each group will progress to the Quarter-Finals. The third-place nations face possible qualification for the League A/B Play-Offs. The teams that finish bottom will progress to the play-offs or relegated to League B.

Group A1

Belgium
France
Italy
Turkey

Group A2

Germany
Greece
Netherlands
Serbia

Group A3

Croatia
Czechia
England
Spain

Group A4

Denmark
Norway
Portugal
Wales

LEAGUE B

The nations that top their groups will be promoted to League A. The second-place teams will progress to the League A/B Play-Offs. The third-place teams will take part in the League B/C Play-Offs. The nations that finish bottom of their group will be relegated to League C.

Group B1

North Macedonia
Scotland
Slovenia
Switzerland

Group B2

Georgia
Hungary
Northern Ireland
Ukraine

Group B3

Austria
Israel
Kosovo
Republic of Ireland

Group B4

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Poland
Romania
Sweden

LEAGUE C

The nations that top their groups will be promoted to League B. The second-place teams will progress to the League B/C Play-Offs. The third and fourth-place teams will remain in League C.

Group C1

Albania
Belarus
Finland
San Marino

Group C2

Armenia
Cyprus
Montenegro
Latvia

Group C3

Faroe Islands
Kazakhstan
Moldova
Slovakia

Group C4

Bulgaria
Estonia
Iceland
Luxembourg

LEAGUE D

All the teams will be promoted to League C due to be League D being scrapped in the next edition.

Group D1

Andorra
Gibraltar
Malta

Group D2

Azerbaijan
Liechtenstein
Lithuania