Official Announcement: UEFA Nations League Format Change From Four-Tier to Three-Tier System

On September 15, 2024 (CEST), according to UEFA, the UEFA Executive Committee approved adjustments to the promotion and relegation system for the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League season to ensure a smooth transition to the new format that will take effect from the 2028/29 season, when the Nations League will be reduced from its current four-tier structure to a three-tier structure.

These adjustments aim to establish the foundation for the new concept approved in May 2026. Under the new plan, from the 2028/29 season onwards, the UEFA Nations League will adopt a three-tier league structure rather than the current four-tier system.

During the transitional 2026/27 season, the promotion and relegation mechanisms will be specially modified to ensure that teams have fair and clear pathways when transitioning between the old and new formats. The UEFA Executive Committee expects this move will allow participating associations to adapt smoothly to changes in the competition framework going forward.

Simultaneously, a new round of 16 will be introduced in the 2026/27 Nations League, which represents a significant expansion of the tournament knockout stage.

UEFA Nations League Promotion and Relegation Adjustments for the 2026/27 to 2028/29 Seasons

Since the originally planned promotion and relegation system was always based on four tiers, it is necessary to adjust the relegation rules to transition to a three-tier system in the 2028/29 season.

The approved adjustments are as follows:

Playoffs

The following teams participate in playoffs. The playoffs determine each team's league level for the next competition based on their standings at the end of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League league phase.

League A/B Playoffs

Teams participating in the League A/B playoff are:

The two lowest-ranked teams among League A third-place finishers

The two highest-ranked teams among League A fourth-place finishers

These four teams will face off in a playoff against four League B second-place teams.

League B/C Playoffs

Teams participating in the League B/C playoff are:

Four League B fourth-place teams

Four League C second-place teams

Promotion and Relegation

Promotion and relegation between leagues will occur as follows:

The first-place team from each of the four League B groups is promoted to League A.

The two lowest-ranked teams among League A fourth-place finishers are relegated to League B.

The four League A/B playoff winners advance to League A, and the four playoff losers advance to League B.

The first-place team from each of the four League C groups is promoted to League B.

The four League B/C playoff winners advance to League B, and the four playoff losers advance to League C.

Subsequently, since League D will no longer exist, all teams currently in League D are promoted to League C.

UEFA Nations League Transition Chart 2026-2028

🟨 League A Quarterfinals

🟩 Direct Promotion

⬜ Remain in Current League

🟦 Promotion Playoff

🟥 Relegation Playoff

🔴 Direct Relegation

In other words, after the 2026/27 season, some teams will have their new level determined through direct promotion and relegation, while other teams must go through playoffs to determine their placement in the 2028/29 season.