England are closing in on qualification for the 2026-27 Nations League quarter-finals if they beat Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday night. Thomas Tuchel's side sit second after three matches in Group A3, with a win all but confirming their place in next March's quarter-finals. Tuesday night will mark the final fixtures of the fourth round of group stage matches. The final two full rounds will be played in November's international break.
The eight teams to finish in the top two of the four League A groups will play in the knockout rounds that start in March 2027. Teams finishing at the top of groups in leagues B and C will earn promotion for the next Nations League cycle, while teams that finish second in a League B or League C group will face a third-place team from the league above them in a promotion/relegation play-off. The losers of the relegation play-offs, as well as the bottom-placed finishers from groups in League A and League B will be relegated. As the Nations League format is changing for the next cycle, taking place across 2028 and 2029, all League D teams are guaranteed promotion to League C. Additionally, no teams from League C will be relegated at the end of this cycle.
Portugal are the only side guaranteed to play in the quarter-finals at present, having won their opening four matches in Group A4. Spain will join them from Group A3 on Tuesday, should they beat Croatia and Czech Republic fail to beat England. If England and Spain both win on Tuesday, England would need just one point from their final two matches against Croatia and Spain next month to book their place in the last eight. In Group A1, France and Italy sit in the top two spots. Belgium are a point behind Italy in third. Two of those three sides will advance to the quarter-finals. It is a similar tale in Group A2. Netherlands and Greece are the top two, three points clear of Germany in third. With Serbia bottom on zero points, two of the current top three will advance. In A4, Denmark are second and three points clear of Wales and Norway. One of the trio will join table-toppers Portugal. The quarter-finals are played across two legs in March's international break. The winners of each tie will advance to the semi-finals in June 2027, which are played in a one-off match across Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 June. The final takes place on Sunday, 13 June.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing