The 2026/27 Nations League changes: the two best third-placed teams stay in League A, only the two worst fourth-placed teams are relegated directly

With the Nations League set for a revamp from the 2028/29 season, when it will adopt a format similar to the new club competitions, the rules for this fifth edition of the tournament are changing too, with Italy already having taken to the pitch against Belgium and Turkey.

The UEFA Executive Committee have made it official: to rebalance the numbers in the new format, with each league expanding from 16 to 18 teams, the promotion and relegation system will inevitably change. In practice, Italy will still have the same chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals, with this year's winners and runners-up from the four groups going through again, while the risk of relegation to League B is reduced.

Here is what will change. Until last season, the bottom sides in the four League A groups went straight down to League B, while all the third-placed teams went into a play-off to avoid relegation against the runners-up in League B. In the 2026/2027 Nations League, only the two worst fourth-placed teams will be relegated automatically, the two best third-placed teams from the four groups will stay in League A, and the two worst third-placed teams, along with the two best fourth-placed teams, will face the runners-up from the four League B groups in a play-off. Italy have four matches in 11 days, a real tour de force at the end of which they will probably know whether they can still hope to qualify for the quarter-finals or have to fight to stay in League A.

So what changes? Up to last season, the bottom-placed teams in the four League A groups went down directly to League B, while all the third-placed teams played a play-off to avoid relegation against the runners-up in League B. In the 2026/2027 Nations League, only the two worst fourth-placed teams will be relegated directly, the two best third-placed teams from the four groups will stay in League A, and the two worst third-placed teams, along with the two best fourth-placed teams, will contest play-offs against the runners-up in the four League B groups. Italy have four matches in 11 days, and by the end of that run they will probably know whether they can still hope to qualify for the quarter-finals or will have to fight to stay in League A.

To secure direct access to League A in the next, revamped edition of the Nations League, Italy will need to reach the quarter-finals or at least finish among the two best third-placed teams.

Italy's fixtures in UEFA Nations League Group A1

25 September 2026 (20.45): Italy-Belgium 0-2

28 September 2026 (20.45): Turkey-Italy 1-4

2 October 2026 (20.45): France-Italy - Stade de France, Saint-Denis

5 October 2026 (20.45): Italy-Turkey - Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna

12 November 2026 (20.45): Italy-France - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

15 November 2026 (20.45): Belgium-Italy - King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels