NEWS · 06 Oct 2026
Understanding Promotion, Relegation and Knockouts in the Nations League
With more than half of the 2026‑27 Nations League group stage finished, BBC Sport explains how the competition’s promotion, relegation and knockout stages work and what teams can expect next.
The 2026‑27 UEFA Nations League has entered its second half, with more than half of the group‑stage fixtures already played. Teams across the four leagues are now racing to finish in positions that will determine their fate for next season.
In the Nations League, the top‑finishing teams in each group earn promotion to the next higher league. Promotion is a key incentive, as it gives national teams a chance to compete against stronger opponents and improve their standing in European football.
Conversely, the lowest‑placed teams in each group face relegation to the league below. Relegation can have significant consequences for national programmes, including reduced visibility and tougher qualification paths for major tournaments.
Once the group stage concludes, the competition moves into knockout rounds. The group winners advance to the Nations League Finals, where they compete in a single‑match knockout format to decide the overall champion.
With the group stage almost complete, the focus now shifts to the knockout phase, the final match, and the impact on future European Championship qualification. Teams will be eager to secure a spot in the next season’s league and to avoid the drop.