CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE
The Concacaf Nations League was established by the Confederation in 2018 to provide all member associations with consistent opportunities to compete in official matches throughout the four-year cycle between FIFA World Cups. The competition promotes development and delivers an exciting, region-wide tournament experience for fans.
Since its inception, four editions of the Concacaf Nations League have taken place, featuring intense competition for the title of Concacaf Nations League Champion, promotion and relegation across the three leagues, and qualification for major centralized tournaments.
The next two Concacaf Nations League editions are scheduled for 2026/27 and 2028/29. They will continue to be played under the existing three-league system and serve as the qualifying pathway to the Concacaf Gold Cup. The composition of each League will be determined based on the results of the preceding edition.
Furthermore, starting in 2026/27, the competition will also introduce Finals for Leagues B and C, adding eight additional matches and bringing the total to 118.
League A: 16 teams (Group Stage and Quarterfinals)
League A includes 16 teams and features Group Stage and Quarterfinals. In the Group Stage, the league’s 12 lowest-ranked teams, based on the Concacaf Rankings, will be split into two groups of six. They will compete in a “Swiss style” league system, with each team playing a total of four games, two at home and two away.
After the Group Stage, the top two teams from each group will move on to the Quarterfinals, where they will compete against the league’s four highest-ranked teams. The fifth and sixth-place finishers will be relegated to League B. The Quarterfinals will be played over two legs, home and away, with the aggregate score winners advancing to the Concacaf Nations League Finals.
League B: 16 teams (Group Stage)
League B includes 16 teams divided into four groups of four. Each team will play every other team in its group twice for a total of six matches per team. At the conclusion of play, the group winners (four teams) will be promoted to League A and advance to the league’s Finals, and the fourth-place finishers (four teams) will be relegated to League C.
League C: 9 teams (Group Stage)
League C includes nine teams divided into three groups of three. Each team will play every other team in its group twice for a total of four matches per team. At the conclusion of play, the group winners (three teams) and the best second-place finisher (one team) will be promoted to League B and advance to the league’s Finals.
Finals: Four teams per League (Semifinals, 3rd Place Match, and Final)
The Concacaf Nations League Finals will be staged at a centralized venue, with inaugural Finals for Leagues B and C set to debut in 2027. In League A, the 2027 Finals will take place at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium , while the 2029 edition will be hosted at a location to be announced. Additional details about the new Finals for Leagues B and C will be shared at a later date.
