2026–27 UEFA Nations League C

2026–27 UEFA Nations League C
Tournament details
Dates25 September – 16 November 2026
Teams16
2028–29 →

The 2026–27 UEFA Nations League C is the third division of the 2026–27 edition of the UEFA Nations League, the fifth season of the international football competition involving the men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA.

Format

League C consists of 16 UEFA members ranked from 33–48 in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League final overall ranking, split into four groups of four. Each team will play six matches within their group, using the home-and-away round-robin format on matchdays in September, October and November 2026.[1] The winners of each group will be promoted to the 2028–29 UEFA Nations League B, and the two worst-ranked fourth-placed teams will be relegated to the 2028–29 UEFA Nations League D. In addition, the second-placed teams of each group and the two best-ranked fourth-placed teams will advance to the promotion/relegation play-offs, played home-and-away over two legs. The League C second-placed teams will participate in promotion play-offs against the third-placed teams from League B in March 2027, while the two best-ranked League C fourth-placed teams will participate in relegation play-offs against the second-placed teams from League D in March 2028. In the play-offs, teams from the higher leagues will host the second leg, with the winners of each tie participating in the higher league for the next Nations League season, while the losers will enter the lower league.[2]

Teams

League C includes sixteen teams based on the results of the 2024–25 season: the four group fourth-placed teams from League B, the four winners of the League B/C play-offs, the four third-placed teams from League C, the two group winners from League D and the two losers of the League C/D play-offs.

Team changes

The following were the team changes in League C from the 2024–25 season:[3][4]

Incoming
Relegated from
Nations League B 		Promoted from
Nations League D
Outgoing
Promoted to
Nations League B 		Relegated to
Nations League D

Seeding

The teams were seeded for the league phase based on the 2024–25 Nations League final overall ranking, considering promotion and relegation between the leagues.[5][6]

Pot 1
Team Rank
 Iceland 33
 Albania 34
 Montenegro 35
 Kazakhstan 36
Pot 2
Team Rank
 Finland 37
 Slovakia 38
 Bulgaria 39
 Armenia 40
Pot 3
Team Rank
 Belarus 41
 Faroe Islands 42
 Cyprus 43
 Estonia 44
Pot 4
Team Rank
 Latvia or  Gibraltar[a] 45 or 48
 Luxembourg or  Malta[a] 45–46 or 47–48
 Moldova 45–47
 San Marino 46–48
  1. ^ a b The identity of the two promotion/relegation play-off winners was not known at the time of the draw.

The draw for the league phase took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 12 February 2026, 18:00 CET.[7][8] Groups were drawn to contain one team from each pot. Due to excessive travel restrictions, a maximum of one pair of teams identified with excessive travel distance in relation to other countries could be placed in the same group: Iceland with Armenia or Cyprus; Kazakhstan with Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, or Malta. Due to winter venue restrictions, a maximum of two teams whose venues were identified as having high or medium risk of severe winter conditions could be placed in the same group: Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway.[9]

Groups

The fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 13 February 2026, the day following the draw.[10][11]

Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1  Albania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to League B — 12 Nov 26 Sep 6 Oct
2  Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for promotion play-offs 3 Oct — 29 Sep 15 Nov
3  Belarus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 Nov 6 Oct — 3 Oct
4  San Marino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to League D or qualification for relegation play-offs 29 Sep 26 Sep 12 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 26 September 2026. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
San Marino v Finland
Report
Albania v Belarus
Report
Finland v Belarus
Report
San Marino v Albania
Report
Finland v Albania
Report
Belarus v San Marino
Report
Attendance: 0[note 2]
Albania v San Marino
Report
Belarus v Finland
Report
Attendance: 0[note 2]
Albania v Finland
Report
San Marino v Belarus
Report
Belarus v Albania
Report
Attendance: 0[note 2]
Finland v San Marino
Report

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1  Montenegro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to League B — 5 Oct 25 Sep 12 Nov
2  Armenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for promotion play-offs 28 Sep — 12 Nov 25 Sep
3  Cyprus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 Nov 2 Oct — 5 Oct
4 Winner of Latvia–Gibraltar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to League D or qualification for relegation play-offs 2 Oct 15 Nov 28 Sep —
First match(es) will be played: 25 September 2026. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Armenia v Winner of Latvia–Gibraltar
Report
Montenegro v Cyprus
Report
Armenia v Montenegro
Report
Winner of Latvia–Gibraltar v Cyprus
Report
Cyprus v Armenia
Report
Winner of Latvia–Gibraltar v Montenegro
Report
Cyprus v Winner of Latvia–Gibraltar
Report
Montenegro v Armenia
Report
Armenia v Cyprus
Report
Montenegro v Winner of Latvia–Gibraltar
Report
Cyprus v Montenegro
Report
Winner of Latvia–Gibraltar v Armenia
Report

Group 3

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1  Kazakhstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to League B — 16 Nov 6 Oct 2 Oct
2  Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for promotion play-offs 29 Sep — 13 Nov 26 Sep
3  Faroe Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 Sep 2 Oct — 16 Nov
4  Moldova 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to League D or qualification for relegation play-offs 13 Nov 6 Oct 29 Sep —
First match(es) will be played: 26 September 2026. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Faroe Islands v Kazakhstan
Report
Slovakia v Moldova
Report
Moldova v Faroe Islands
Report
Slovakia v Kazakhstan
Report
Kazakhstan v Moldova
Report
Faroe Islands v Slovakia
Report
Kazakhstan v Faroe Islands
Report
Moldova v Slovakia
Report
Moldova v Kazakhstan
Report
Slovakia v Faroe Islands
Report
Faroe Islands v Moldova
Report
Kazakhstan v Slovakia
Report

Group 4

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1  Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to League B — 3 Oct 26 Sep 16 Nov
2  Bulgaria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for promotion play-offs 13 Nov — 29 Sep 26 Sep
3  Estonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Oct 16 Nov — 3 Oct
4 Winner of Luxembourg–Malta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to League D or qualification for relegation play-offs 29 Sep 6 Oct 13 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 26 September 2026. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Bulgaria v Winner of Luxembourg–Malta
Report
Iceland v Estonia
Report
Bulgaria v Estonia
Report
Winner of Luxembourg–Malta v Iceland
Report
Estonia v Winner of Luxembourg–Malta
Report
Iceland v Bulgaria
Report
Estonia v Iceland
Report
Winner of Luxembourg–Malta v Bulgaria
Report
Bulgaria v Iceland
Report
Winner of Luxembourg–Malta v Estonia
Report
Estonia v Bulgaria
Report
Iceland v Winner of Luxembourg–Malta
Report

Ranking of fourth-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 C1 4th place Group C1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for relegation play-offs
2 C2 4th place Group C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C3 4th place Group C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to League D
4 C4 4th place Group C4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 25 September 2026. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria

Overall ranking

Following the league phase, the 16 League C teams will be ordered 33rd to 48th in an interim overall ranking for the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League according to the following rules:[2]

  • The teams finishing first in the groups will be ranked 33rd to 36th according to the results of the league phase.
  • The teams finishing second in the groups will be ranked 37th to 40th according to the results of the league phase.
  • The teams finishing third in the groups will be ranked 41st to 44th according to the results of the league phase.
  • The teams finishing fourth in the groups will be ranked 45th to 48th according to the results of the league phase.
Rnk Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
33 1st-ranked group winner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 2nd-ranked group winner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
35 3rd-ranked group winner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 4th-ranked group winner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
37 1st-ranked group runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
38 2nd-ranked group runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
39 3rd-ranked group runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
40 4th-ranked group runner-up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
41 1st-ranked group 3rd place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
42 2nd-ranked group 3rd place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
43 3rd-ranked group 3rd place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
44 4th-ranked group 3rd place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 1st-ranked group 4th place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
46 2nd-ranked group 4th place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
47 3rd-ranked group 4th place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
48 4th-ranked group 4th place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 25 September 2026. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Ranking criteria

A final overall ranking will also be compiled, though this is only used to rank teams within their new leagues for the following edition of the competition.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ CEST (UTC+2) for matchdays 1–4 (September and October 2026), CET (UTC+1) for matchdays 5–6 (November 2026).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Due to Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarus are required to play their home matches at neutral venues, and behind closed doors, until further notice.[12]

References

  1. ^ "2026/27 UEFA Nations League: All you need to know". UEFA. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Regulations of the UEFA Nations League 2026/27". UEFA. December 2025. Archived from the original on 11 February 2026. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Nations League final standings: Who made the quarter-finals? Who's been promoted? Who's been relegated? Who's in the play-offs?". UEFA. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Nations League play-offs: Results, promotion and relegation". UEFA. 23 March 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Final overall rankings of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 (updated following the UNL finals 2025)" (PDF). UEFA. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  6. ^ "UEFA Nations League 2026/27 – League phase draw and fixture list procedures". UEFA Circular Letter. No. 03/2026. UEFA. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  7. ^ "League phase draw". UEFA. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Draw for the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League". UEFA. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  9. ^ "League phase draw procedure" (PDF). UEFA. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  10. ^ "2026/27 UEFA Nations League: All the league phase fixtures". UEFA. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  11. ^ "2026/27 UEFA Nations League: League phase fixture list per matchday" (PDF). UEFA. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Belarus teams to play on neutral ground in UEFA competitions". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
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