Nations League 2026/27: League A saves the best third‑placed teams

Under the lights of the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy is preparing to step onto the pitch for its debut in the Nations League 2026/27 against Belgium, while UEFA is defining new rules that will change League A and reshape the promotion and relegation mechanisms for upcoming editions.

The new format starting from 2028/29

From the 2028/29 season, the Nations League will adopt a format inspired by the new club competitions. The leagues will consist of three groups of six teams, for a total of six matches against five different opponents for each nation.

Revisiting the promotion and relegation mechanisms

The UEFA Executive Committee, meeting today in Thessaloniki, confirmed the decision. To numerically realign the national teams, the number of teams per league will increase from sixteen to eighteen, with a consequent revision of the promotion and relegation mechanisms.

In this new configuration Italy will retain the same chances of reaching the quarter‑finals, reserved for the top two finishers of each of the four groups. The risk of dropping to League B has been reduced. The top two finishers of each group qualify automatically, while the second‑placed teams retain the possibility of fighting for qualification.

Italy seeks advantage in the Nations League against Turkey

Until the previous edition, the bottom team of each League A group was relegated directly to League B, while all third‑placed teams contested a playoff against the second‑placed teams from League B.

In the Nations League 2026/27 only the two lowest‑ranked fourth‑placed teams will be relegated directly; the two best third‑placed teams of the four groups will remain in League A. The two lowest third‑placed teams, together with the two best fourth‑placed teams, will face playoffs against the second‑placed teams from League B.

Italy will play four matches in eleven days, starting on 25 September 2026 against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 20:45. It will continue on 28 September in Bursa against Turkey, on 2 October against France in Saint‑Denis, and on 5 October against Turkey at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna. The schedule closes on 12 November in Milan against France and on 15 November at the Stadio Re Baldovino in Brussels against Belgium.

Italy puts pressure on Red Devils with nine subs against Turkey

To secure direct access to League A for the next edition, Italy will need to qualify for the quarter‑finals or, alternatively, finish among the two best third‑placed teams. The new structure makes the possibility of staying in League A more realistic.