With more than half of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League group stage already done, things are starting to take shape across all four leagues — and for fans of the home nations, there is plenty still to play for. Whether you are trying to work out how England reach the quarter-finals or what a bottom-place finish would mean for Wales, here is how the whole thing fits together.

How the knockout rounds work

The eight sides that finish in the top two of the four League A groups will advance to the quarter-finals, which are played across two legs in the March 2027 international break. The semi-finals follow in June 2027 — single-leg affairs on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 June — with the final taking place on Sunday, 13 June.

Portugal are already guaranteed a quarter-final place, having won all four of their Group A4 matches. Spain are expected to join them from that group on Tuesday evening should results go their way. England, sitting second in Group A3 after three games, could come very close to booking their own spot if they beat Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday night — a win would leave them needing just a single point from their remaining November fixtures against Croatia and Spain to confirm their place in the last eight.

Elsewhere in League A, France and Italy occupy the top two spots in Group A1, with Belgium a point behind in third. Two of those three will go through. In Group A2, Netherlands and Greece lead the way, three points clear of Germany, with Serbia yet to register a point. Again, two from the current top three will progress.

Promotion, relegation and the play-offs explained

For the leagues below League A, the group winners earn automatic promotion to the division above for the next Nations League cycle. Teams finishing second in a League B or League C group are not safe though — they face the third-placed side from the league above in a promotion/relegation play-off. The losers of those play-offs drop down, as do the bottom-placed finishers from League A and League B groups.

There is one notable exception for this cycle. Because the Nations League format is changing ahead of the 2028-29 edition — moving to three larger leagues with no League D — every League D side is guaranteed promotion to League C regardless of where they finish. Similarly, no League C team will face relegation at the end of this campaign.

How are the home nations placed?

Wales are fighting for their League A lives in Group A4 alongside Denmark and Norway, with three points from four games after a 2-1 win over Norway in Cardiff. Portugal having already qualified means the remaining second qualifying spot is a three-way contest. Wales will need close to maximum points from their final matches to have any hope of making the last eight; a third-place finish would drop them into a relegation play-off, while finishing bottom would mean an automatic drop to League B.

Scotland head into Tuesday's home fixture against Slovenia at Hampden Park sitting third in League B1 on goal difference alone. A win would lift them above Slovenia and into second behind Switzerland. With North Macedonia bottom and still to come in Scotland's schedule, back-to-back wins would leave them well placed heading into a final-round showdown against the Swiss.

Northern Ireland have been the standout performers among the home nations, picking up two wins and two draws without conceding a goal across their four Group B2 matches. They sit top of the group by a point. If they can beat bottom side Georgia in November and Hungary drop points to Ukraine in that same round of fixtures, Northern Ireland will seal promotion and top spot before their final game is even played.

The Republic of Ireland sit third in Group B3 with five points from four matches. Their final two games come against the top two sides — Austria and Kosovo — meaning wins in both would guarantee a top-two finish and potentially even group victory depending on results elsewhere.

The final two full rounds of group stage fixtures take place during November's international break, so the picture will be a great deal clearer before the year is out.

  • Quarter-finals: March 2027 (two legs)
  • Semi-finals: 9–10 June 2027 (single leg)
  • Final: 13 June 2027

Frequently asked

How do teams qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals?
The eight teams that finish in the top two of the four League A groups qualify for the quarter-finals, which are played over two legs in March 2027.
What happens if England finish second in their Nations League group?
A second-place finish in League A is enough to reach the quarter-finals. Only the bottom-placed team in a League A group faces relegation, and third place means a promotion/relegation play-off.
Will any Nations League teams be relegated to League D in 2026-27?
No. Because the Nations League is switching to a new three-league format for 2028-29, there will be no League D in the next cycle. All current League D sides are guaranteed promotion to League C, and no League C side will be relegated this time around.