As the newest tournament in European international football, the UEFA Nations League has already undergone several different format changes in its relatively young life.
In this article, we’ll explore more about the UEFA Nations League, including any changes to the tournament’s format up to 2025 and beyond. We’ll also explain how the competition’s current format works.
Additionally, we’ll take a look ahead to the next UEFA Nations League in 2026/2027 and how each of the four different sections of the tournament will line up.
But before that, we do have the UEFA Nations League Finals this summer in Germany, where the four remaining teams will battle it out to be named the latest UEFA Nations League Champions.
Founded in 2018, the UEFA Nations League replaced many of the friendly games international teams had in the calendar. It was designed to ensure teams faced commensurate quality opponents during those international weeks.
The competition was initially divided into four leagues, with 12 teams in Leagues A and B, 15 in League C, and 16 in League D. Rankings determined which league each team was allocated to. Teams played in Groups of 3, playing four matches in the Group Stage of the inaugural tournament.
However, a change was made in the second competition following consultation between UEFA and the teams competing in the event.
That saw an expansion of Leagues A, B, and C, which would now be comprised of 16 teams. Additionally, the teams would be drawn into four groups of four. The only difference was for League D, which featured seven teams, in one group of four and one of three.
Russia’s expulsion from the tournament means that 54 teams have competed in the last couple of UEFA Nations League tournaments, meaning League D has had just six teams in two groups of three, and that looks likely to be the case for the 2026/2027 tournament.
Furthermore, the new format of the Nations League saw promotion for the top teams in Leagues B, C and D, while those who finished top and second in League A contest the first Nations League Finals Playoffs, with the four winning teams from the two-legged playoffs going into the Nations League Finals.
Teams that finish bottom of their group in Leagues A, B, and C are relegated to the league below. Teams that finish second bottom of their group enter a playoff against teams from the league below that finish second in Leagues B, C, and D for a place in the higher league next season.
Those key changes to the tournament have been kept through the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League and will remain in place for forthcoming tournaments.
Strong performers in the UEFA Nations League who don’t earn a World Cup or European Championships qualification spot can qualify for the playoffs of that competition via this tournament.
There have been three past tournaments of the UEFA Nations League and each has produced a different winner.
Despite rumours that the CONMEBOL teams (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay and Chile) would enter the UEFA Nations League, there has been no confirmation that this will occur, at least in time for the next tournament in 2026/2027.
This rumour started when Polish FA supremo Zbignew Boniek announced that CONMEBOL teams would participate in the tournament from 2025, as part of an agreement signed between CONMEBOL and UEFA for closer participation between the two confederations.
However, the announcement that CONMEBOL still wanted to retain its 18-match World Cup Qualifying campaign seems to have scuppered any plans for CONMEBOL participation in the UEFA Nations League for the foreseeable future.
Here are the confirmed leagues for the next UEFA Nations League in 2026/2027.
The draws to decide each of the four groups in Leagues A, B and C, as well as the two groups for League D will be made at a later date.
Companies such as bet365 Sport offer a wide range of betting markets on the Nations League, covering every match in the tournament, as well as having a choice of outright winner markets and extensive In-Play betting once the games are in progress.
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