What changed
England are second in Group A3 after three matches and can move close to the 2026-27 Nations League quarter-finals by beating Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday.
The competition’s routes are now clear:
- The top two teams in each League A group reach the quarter-finals.
- League B and C group winners are promoted.
- Some second- and third-placed teams meet in promotion and relegation play-offs.
- League A and B bottom teams are relegated.
- Every League D team will move up to League C for the next cycle, while no League C team will be relegated.
Why it matters
England’s result could make the final two group rounds in November much simpler. If England and Spain both win on Tuesday, England would need only one point from their last two matches against Croatia and Spain to reach the last eight.
Portugal are already through. France and Italy currently occupy the top two places in Group A1, with Belgium one point behind Italy. In Group A2, Netherlands and Greece lead Germany by three points. Denmark, Wales and Norway are separated by a similar fight in Group A4, where one of them will join Portugal.
The stakes are sharper for Wales. They have three points from four matches after beating Norway 2-1 in Cardiff. They need close to maximum points against Norway and Portugal to stay in the quarter-final race. Third place would mean a relegation play-off; last place would send them down to League B.
Scotland are third in League B1, level with Slovenia on points and behind only on goal difference. A win against Slovenia would lift them into second behind Switzerland before the November break.
The longer-term change is just as important. The 2028-29 Nations League will have three larger leagues and no League D. This cycle is therefore the last one in which League D teams can fight their way upward through the old structure. The quarter-finals begin in March 2027, the semi-finals are in June, and the final is on 13 June.
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