Nations League quarter-finals: Who is through? Who can join them? What is the state of play in each League A group?
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Article summary
England, Portugal and Spain have guaranteed their places in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. Who can join them?
Article top media content
Article body
The top two teams in each League A group gain passage to the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League quarter-finals in March.
Portugal and Spain made certain of a last-eight place on Matchday 4 and England have followed suit on Matchday 5. We lay out which teams can join them and the results they need to do so.
This article is for information purposes only. In case of any discrepancy, the Regulations of the UEFA Nations League prevail. UEFA accepts no liability for the accuracy or completeness of this article. Last updated: 22:30 CET on Thursday 12 November.
As per article 15 of the UEFA Nations League regulations, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following criteria are applied, in this order, to determine the group standings:
a. Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;
b. Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;
c. Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question;
d. If, after having applied criteria a) to c), teams still have an equal ranking, criteria a) to c) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria e) to k) apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal;
e. Superior goal difference in all group matches;
f. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
g. Higher number of away goals scored in all group matches;
h. Higher number of wins in all group matches;
i. Higher number of away wins in all group matches;
j. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
k. Higher position in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League access list (see Annex C).
How it works
- The group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.
- The two highest-ranked third-placed teams remain in League A.
- The two lowest-ranked third-placed teams and two highest-ranked fourth-placed teams contest the League A/B play-offs against the four runners-up from League B.
- The two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams are relegated to League B.
Group A1
Italy (10pts), France (10), Belgium (9), Türkiye (0)
Italy will finish first if they win, or if they draw and France do not win. Italy will reach the quarter-finals if they avoid defeat by Belgium, or if France lose to Türkiye.
France will finish first if they win and Italy do not win. France will reach the quarter-finals if they avoid defeat by Türkiye, or if Belgium do not beat Italy.
Belgium will finish first if they win and France do not beat Türkiye. Belgium will reach the quarter-finals if they beat Italy.
Türkiye are confirmed in fourth place.
Remaining Group A1 fixtures
Sunday 15 November
Belgium vs Italy
France vs Türkiye
All kick-off times CET; 20:45 CET unless stated
Group A2
Netherlands (8pts), Greece (8), Germany (5), Serbia (0)
Netherlands will be confirmed in the quarter-finals if they beat Greece and Germany do not win, or if they draw and Germany lose.
Greece will be confirmed as group winners and qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat Netherlands. Greece will be confirmed in the top two and qualify for the quarter-finals if they draw and Germany do not beat Serbia.
Germany will be unable to reach the quarter-finals if they lose to Serbia and Netherlands do not lose to Greece. Germany will be safe from direct relegation if they avoid defeat by Serbia.
Serbia cannot reach the quarter-finals and will be confirmed in fourth place if they do not beat Germany.
Remaining Group A2 fixtures
Friday 13 November
Netherlands vs Greece
Serbia vs Germany
Monday 16 November
Germany vs Netherlands
Greece vs Serbia
All kick-off times CET; 20:45 CET unless stated
Group A3
Spain (15pts), England (12), Croatia (3), Czechia (0)
Spain are confirmed in the quarter-finals. They will finish first if they avoid defeat by England.
England are confirmed in the quarter-finals. They will finish in second place if they do not beat Spain.
Croatia will finish third if they avoid defeat by Czechia
Czechia will finish fourth if they do not beat Croatia.
Remaining Group A3 fixtures
Sunday 15 November
Croatia vs Czechia
Spain vs England
All kick-off times CET; 20:45 CET unless stated
Group A4
Portugal (12pts), Denmark (6), Wales (3), Norway (3)
Portugal have confirmed their place in the quarter-finals. They will be confirmed as group winners if they avoid defeat by Denmark.
Denmark will be confirmed in the quarter-finals if they beat Portugal and Norway do not beat Wales. Denmark will be safe from direct relegation if they draw.
Wales will be unable to reach the quarter-finals if they lose to Norway or Denmark beat Portugal. Wales will also be unable to reach the last eight if they draw and Denmark avoid defeat. Wales will be safe from direct relegation if they win and Denmark avoid defeat.
Norway will be unable to reach the quarter-finals if they lose to Wales and Denmark avoid defeat by Portugal, or if they draw and Denmark win. Norway will be confirmed in fourth place if they lose and Denmark avoid defeat.
Remaining Group A4 fixtures
Saturday 14 November
Norway vs Wales (18:00)
Portugal vs Denmark
Tuesday 17 November
Denmark vs Norway
Wales vs Portugal
All kick-off times CET; 20:45 CET unless stated