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In the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, group winners in Leagues B and C are promoted, while every League D team moves up to League C. Relegation and play-off places depend not only on finishing position but, in several cases, on how teams rank against the same-place finishers in other groups. The adjusted rules prepare for UEFA’s planned move to three leagues in 2028/29.
How the 2026/27 league phase works
The competition has four leagues and 14 groups: four groups of four teams in each of Leagues A, B and C, plus two groups of three or four teams in League D. The 2026/27 access list allocates the top 16 ranked teams to League A, positions 17–32 to League B, positions 33–48 to League C and the remaining teams to League D. UEFA’s 2026/27 overview and competition regulations set out the format.
Teams play each other twice in their group, once at home and once away. A win is worth three points, a draw one point and a defeat no points. If teams are level on points, UEFA first compares their results against one another: points, goal difference and goals scored in those head-to-head matches. The regulations then continue through overall goal difference and goals scored, away goals, wins and away wins, disciplinary points and access-list position, with a specified reapplication of head-to-head criteria. The full ranking sequence matters; overall goal difference alone does not decide every tie.
Who gets promoted or relegated?
| League | Automatic movement | Play-off places |
|---|---|---|
| A | The two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams are relegated to B. The two highest-ranked third-placed teams remain in A. | The other two third-placed teams and two fourth-placed teams play League B runners-up. |
| B | Group winners are promoted to A. | Runners-up play selected League A teams; fourth-placed teams play League C runners-up. |
| C | Group winners are promoted to B. The two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams are relegated to D. | Runners-up play League B fourth-placed teams; the two highest-ranked fourth-placed teams play League D runners-up. |
| D | All teams are promoted to C. | The two runners-up play the selected League C fourth-placed teams. |
These are the adjusted 2026/27 arrangements in UEFA’s edition-specific overview. In Leagues A, B and C, a finishing place does not always establish the outcome by itself: UEFA ranks teams in the relevant positions across groups to select which teams move automatically or enter the play-offs. The promotion and relegation regulations specify the cross-group rankings and pairings.
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Which teams go into each play-off?
League A against League B
The four League B runners-up face four selected League A teams: the two lowest-ranked third-placed sides and the two highest-ranked fourth-placed sides in League A. The remaining League A third-placed teams stay in the league, while the two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams are relegated automatically.
League B against League C
The four League C runners-up face the four League B fourth-placed teams. League B group winners are promoted automatically, while League C group winners move up to B.
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League C against League D
The two highest-ranked League C fourth-placed teams face the League D runners-up. The two lowest-ranked League C fourth-placed teams are relegated automatically; all League D teams are promoted to C.
How do the play-offs work?
Each promotion/relegation play-off is a two-legged, home-and-away tie. UEFA determines pairings by draw, with the higher-league teams seeded against lower-league teams. The lower-league side hosts the first leg. The winner is the team with more goals across both matches, subject to the further tie-resolution provisions in UEFA’s play-off regulations.
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When are the 2026/27 play-offs?
The League A/B and League B/C play-offs are scheduled for 25–30 March 2027. The League C/D ties are scheduled for 23–28 March 2028, not March 2027. UEFA’s overview also lists the league phase from September to November 2026, with matchdays 1–4 from 24 September to 6 October and matchdays 5–6 from 12–17 November. The League A quarter-finals and finals are scheduled for 25–30 March and 9–13 June 2027, respectively. Dates are from UEFA’s 3 October 2026 overview.
The C/D play-offs have a EURO 2028 qualification contingency: under the regulations, those ties are not played if any participating team qualifies for the European Qualifier play-offs for EURO 2028. The regulations specify which teams then remain in their leagues. Consult the current play-off provisions for the detailed procedure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why are the 2026/27 movement rules different?
UEFA has announced a planned change from four leagues to three leagues of 18 teams from 2028/29. The 2026/27 promotion, relegation and play-off places are adjusted to support that transition. The three-league structure is an announced future format, not the format used in 2026/27; see UEFA’s 2026/27 overview and its format announcement.
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