Tables coming soon….
The UEFA Nations League standings rank Europe’s national teams within four separate leagues, and the live table on this page updates automatically after every match. This guide explains what that table below means for the current 2026/27 season: how the competition is organised, what the top and bottom places decide, how teams level on points are separated, the key dates in New Zealand time, and how to follow the matches from here. For the latest positions, points and form, read the table itself — the sections underneath explain how to use it.
Key Facts
| Competition | UEFA Nations League |
|---|---|
| Organiser | UEFA |
| Current edition | 2026/27 (fifth edition) |
| Teams | 54 national teams |
| Leagues | A, B, C and D, with promotion and relegation |
| Group stage | Home-and-away; 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss |
| League phase | 24 September – 17 November 2026 |
| Knockouts & play-offs | 25–30 March 2027 |
| Finals (League A) | 9–13 June 2027 (host to be confirmed) |
| NZ coverage | beIN Sports (subscription) |
What the UEFA Nations League is
The UEFA Nations League is a competition for Europe’s men’s national teams, run by UEFA, that replaces most friendly international matches with competitive fixtures. Teams are split into four tiers — Leagues A, B, C and D — by strength, so sides of a similar level play each other. The 2026/27 edition is the fifth staging of the tournament. Each league has its own table, and teams move up or down between the tiers at the end of the season based on where they finish.
How the 2026/27 season is organised
The current season features 54 national teams across the four leagues. Leagues A, B and C each hold 16 teams, divided into four groups of four; League D has six teams in two groups of three. Within a group, every team plays each rival twice — once at home, once away — so sides in the four-team groups play six matches and League D teams play four.
Points follow the standard league-phase system: three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat. Teams are then ranked in their group by total points, and the final table decides who is promoted, who is relegated and who reaches the knockout stage. If you are new to league tables, our guide on how to read a sports standings table walks through every row and column, and the glossary of standings table abbreviations explains labels such as P, W, D, L, GD and Pts.
League Breakdown
| League | Teams | Group stage | What the table decides |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 16 (4 groups of 4) | 6 matches | Top two per group reach the quarter-finals and the Finals route; bottom places risk relegation to B |
| B | 16 (4 groups of 4) | 6 matches | Group winners promoted to A; runners-up in play-offs; bottom teams drop towards C |
| C | 16 (4 groups of 4) | 6 matches | Group winners promoted to B; runners-up in play-offs |
| D | 6 (2 groups of 3) | 4 matches | Final edition of League D — all teams promoted to C |
What each part of the table means
Each league table does a different job, so the position that matters depends on which tier you are looking at. The zones below are set by UEFA’s rules for 2026/27.
League A — the title and the Finals
In each League A group, the top two teams (positions 1 and 2) advance to the quarter-finals and keep alive their chance of reaching the Nations League Finals and the title. At the bottom, the two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams across the four groups are relegated directly to League B. The two lowest-ranked third-placed teams and the two highest-ranked fourth-placed teams go into promotion/relegation play-offs against League B sides.
Leagues B and C — promotion and play-offs
In both League B and League C, the four group winners (1st place) are promoted directly to the league above. The four runners-up (2nd place) enter promotion/relegation play-offs for a further chance to go up. In League B, the fourth-placed teams drop into play-offs against League C; in League C, the third and fourth-placed teams stay where they are for this season.
League D — the final edition
League D has only six teams this season, and 2026/27 is the last edition to include it: UEFA moves to a three-league structure from 2028/29. Because the tier is being dissolved, all League D teams are promoted to League C at the end of the season, so the League D table is about seeding rather than survival.
How teams level on points are separated
The first point of this section: the Nations League uses head-to-head results before overall goal difference, which is the opposite order to many domestic leagues. When teams in a group finish level on points, UEFA ranks them first on the points, goal difference and goals scored in the matches between only those tied teams. If they are still level, it moves to overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, away goals, wins, away wins, a disciplinary-points ranking and finally the seeding position. That is a different chain from the Premier League standings, where overall goal difference is used first. For a plain-English look at the principles behind every system, see our explainer on how sports standings are ranked.
Key dates for the 2026/27 season (NZ time)
The group phase runs across six matchdays from 24 September to 17 November 2026, with the final two matchdays on 12–14 and 15–17 November 2026. The League A quarter-finals, played over two legs, take place from 25 to 30 March 2027, alongside the promotion/relegation play-offs. The Nations League Finals are scheduled for 9–13 June 2027, though UEFA has still to confirm the host and exact dates.
Most matches kick off in the European evening, which falls the following morning in New Zealand. A typical 20:45 CET start in November is about 8:45am the next day in New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT, UTC+13); the June Finals are played while New Zealand is on standard time (NZST, UTC+12), so an evening kick-off there lands in the early morning NZ time. Always check the live table and official fixtures for the exact time of each game.
How the season ends
Only League A plays for the trophy. The four group winners and four runners-up meet in two-legged quarter-finals in March 2027, and the four winners go through to the Nations League Finals in June 2027 — two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final, from which the champion is crowned. Leagues B, C and D have no finals: their season is settled entirely by the group tables and the March play-offs, which decide promotion and relegation. Separately, the best-ranked Nations League group winners who miss out through the normal European Qualifiers can earn a second chance via the UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying play-offs.
How to follow the Nations League from New Zealand
In New Zealand, the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 is shown on beIN Sports, which is available as a subscription from NZ$16.99 per month. Because kick-offs mostly land in the New Zealand morning, this page’s live table is the quickest way to catch up on results you may have missed overnight. Streaming rights can change between international windows, so confirm the current provider and price on the broadcaster’s own site before you subscribe.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many teams are in the UEFA Nations League 2026/27?
54 national teams take part, split across four leagues. Leagues A, B and C each have 16 teams in four groups of four, while League D has six teams in two groups of three.
How many points is a win worth?
A win is worth three points, a draw one point and a defeat none. Teams are ranked in their group on total points, then on the tiebreakers set out in UEFA’s regulations.
Who qualifies for the Nations League Finals?
Only League A teams. The group winners and runners-up play two-legged quarter-finals in March 2027, and the four winners reach the Finals in June 2027, where the champion is decided.
How does promotion and relegation work?
Group winners in Leagues B and C are promoted; the lowest-placed League A teams are relegated or sent to play-offs. As 2026/27 is the final edition with League D, all League D teams move up to League C.
How can I watch the Nations League from New Zealand?
New Zealand viewers can watch the 2026/27 Nations League on beIN Sports, available by subscription from NZ$16.99 per month. Check the broadcaster’s site for the current schedule, as rights can change each window.