The Nations League quarter-final picture is taking shape after the first international window of the season. Portugal are the only team to have already secured their place in the last eight, having won all four of their opening matches.
Two more rounds of group fixtures will be played in November to decide the remaining qualifiers. The top two teams from each of the four League A groups will progress to the two-legged knockout ties scheduled for March 2027.
Group standings
In Group A1, France lead Italy by three points, with Belgium just one point further back in third. Belgium's remaining games include a trip to Turkey and a home fixture against Italy. France face Italy and Turkey, while Italy also host Belgium in a key final match.
Group A2 is tightly contested, with Greece level on points with the Netherlands at the top. Germany sit in third place, with the Dutch still to play both Greece and Germany in the final round. Greece's final two matches are against the Netherlands and Germany, setting up a decisive conclusion.
Spain confirmed their quarter-final spot with a win over Croatia on Tuesday. England, who beat the Czech Republic, need just one point from their final two games to join them. Thomas Tuchel's side can still win the group if they win both remaining fixtures. Croatia and the Czech Republic are now eliminated from contention for the quarter-finals.
Portugal have qualified from Group A3 with a perfect record. Denmark are three points behind in second, with Norway and Wales needing a strong November to challenge. Denmark's final matches are against Wales and Norway, while Portugal face Norway and Wales.
Knockout format and dates
The quarter-final draw will pair the four group winners against the four runners-up. Teams cannot be drawn against an opponent they faced in the group stage, with the group winners playing the second leg at home.
The draw is scheduled for late November 2026 at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The quarter-final ties will be played between March 25 and March 30, 2027.
Winners will advance to the single-leg final four stage, scheduled for June 9-13, 2027 in a neutral country. The event will feature two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final. The host nation for the finals will be selected from among the four qualified teams.
In the lower leagues, the current group leaders in Leagues B and C are set for promotion ahead of the next Nations League cycle. The promotion and relegation battles will also be decided in the November window, with the bottom teams in each League A group facing relegation to League B.
The original report is at DAZN
