2026–27 CONCACAF Nations League
Association football tournament
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The 2026–27 CONCACAF Nations League is the fifth season of the CONCACAF Nations League, an international association football competition involving the men's senior national teams of the 41 member associations of CONCACAF. The competition began with the group stage in September 2026 and is scheduled to conclude with the finals of the three leagues in March 2027.[1]
23 September – 6 October 2026
League B:
24 September – 17 November 2026
League A quarter-finals:
9–17 November 2026
Nations League Finals:
22–30 March 2027
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Leagues A and C: 23 September – 6 October 2026 League B: 24 September – 17 November 2026 League A quarter-finals: 9–17 November 2026 Nations League Finals: 22–30 March 2027 |
| Teams | 41 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 69 |
| Goals scored | 228 (3.3 per match) |
| Top scorer |  Tiquanny Williams (8 goals) |
← 2024–25 2028–29 →
All statistics correct as of 5 October 2026. | |
The competition also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with teams qualifying directly or advancing to the Gold Cup preliminary round based on their results in the Nations League.[2]
Format
The competition continues to be played across three leagues. The format introduced for the 2023–24 season remains in use, while centralized finals for Leagues B and C are being introduced for the first time.[3]
League A
League A will feature sixteen teams. The four highest-ranked League A teams, based on the CONCACAF Ranking Index of 20 July 2026, were pre-seeded directly into the quarter-finals. The remaining twelve teams were divided into two groups of six, with each team playing four matches against opponents of its group (two at home and two away) on a Swiss-system basis.[2] The opponents scheduled in the fixture released by CONCACAF on 24 July 2026 were listed by corresponding pot below:
- Pot 1: home to Pots 2 and 4, away to Pots 2 and 5
- Pot 2: home to Pots 1 and 3, away to Pots 1 and 6
- Pot 3: home to Pots 4 and 6, away to Pots 2 and 4
- Pot 4: home to Pots 3 and 5, away to Pots 1 and 3
- Pot 5: home to Pots 1 and 6, away to Pots 4 and 6
- Pot 6: home to Pots 2 and 5, away to Pots 3 and 5
The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals. The teams finishing third and fourth will advance to the Gold Cup preliminary round, while the teams finishing fifth and sixth will be relegated to League B and advance to the Nations League Play-In.[1][2]
The four teams advancing from the group stage will join the four pre-seeded teams in the quarter-finals. The ties will be played over two legs on a home-and-away basis. The group stage qualifiers will be ranked according to their results and paired as follows:[2]
- Quarter-final 1: fourth-ranked pre-seeded team against the best group winner;
- Quarter-final 2: third-ranked pre-seeded team against the other group winner;
- Quarter-final 3: second-ranked pre-seeded team against the best group runner-up;
- Quarter-final 4: first-ranked pre-seeded team against the other group runner-up.
The four quarter-final winners will qualify directly for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup and advance to the League A Finals. The four quarter-final losers will advance to the Gold Cup preliminary round.[2]
The League A Finals will consist of two semi-finals, a third-place match and a final. The four quarter-final winners will be ranked according to their quarter-final performances, with the highest-ranked team facing the fourth-ranked team and the second-ranked team facing the third-ranked team in the semi-finals.[2]
League B
League B will feature sixteen teams divided into four groups of four. Each team will face every other team in its group twice in a home-and-away double round-robin format, playing six matches in total.[1][2]
Matches will be held at centralized venues during each FIFA international window. The third-highest-ranked team in each group will host the first set of September–October matches, the second-highest-ranked team will host the second set, and the highest-ranked team will host the November matches.[1][2]
The four group winners will be promoted to League A, qualify directly for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup and advance to the League B Finals. The two best group runners-up will advance to the Gold Cup preliminary round. The four fourth-placed teams will be relegated to League C.[2]
The League B Finals will consist of two semi-finals, a third-place match and a final.[2]
League C
League C will feature nine teams divided into three groups of three. Each team will play every other team in its group twice in a double round-robin format, playing four matches in total. Group-stage matches will be played at centralized venues hosted by the highest-ranked team in each group.[1][2]
The three group winners and the best runner-up will be promoted to League B, advance to the Nations League Play-In and qualify for the League C Finals. The League C Finals will consist of two semi-finals, a third-place match and a final.[2]
Nations League Play-In
The Nations League Play-In will feature the fifth and sixth-placed teams from both League A groups, the three League C group winners and the best League C runner-up. The four ties will be played over two legs on a home-and-away basis.[2]
The teams will be ranked according to their group-stage performances and paired as follows:[2]
- Play-In 1: best fifth-placed League A team against the best League C runner-up;
- Play-In 2: other fifth-placed League A team against the third-ranked League C group winner;
- Play-In 3: best sixth-placed League A team against the second-ranked League C group winner;
- Play-In 4: other sixth-placed League A team against the highest-ranked League C group winner.
The four play-in winners will advance to the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup preliminary round.[2]
Tiebreakers
The ranking of teams in each group is determined as follows (Regulations Article 12.6):[2]
- Points obtained in all group matches (three points for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss);
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Number of goals scored in all group matches;
If two or more teams are still tied based on the above criteria, their rankings are determined as follows:
- Points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;
- Goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question;
- Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question;
- Number of away goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question (if the tie is only between two teams);
- Lowest number of disciplinary points in all group matches (only one deduction can be applied to a player in a single match):
- Yellow card: 1 points;
- Indirect red card (second yellow card): 3 points;
- Direct red card: 4 points;
- Yellow card and direct red card: 5 points;
- Drawing of lots.
Entrants
All 41 CONCACAF member associations will participate in the competition. Teams were allocated to leagues based on the results of the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League. Fifth and sixth-placed teams in League A and fourth-placed teams in League B were relegated, while the League B and League C group winners and the best League C runner-up were promoted.[1]
|
League A |
League B |
League C
|
Draw
The official group stage draw was held on 23 July 2026 at 19:00 EDT.[4] Teams participating in each league's group stage were allocated into pots based on the CONCACAF Ranking Index as of 20 July 2026.[1][5]
All of CONCACAF's 41 member associations entered the competition. Teams were divided into leagues based on their results from the 2024–25 season. Fifth- and sixth-placed teams in League A and the fourth-placed teams in League B from the 2024–25 season moved down a league, while the teams that finished top of each group in Leagues B and C moved up, as did the best second-placed team of League C. The remaining teams stayed in their respective leagues.[6]
|
|
|
Schedule
The schedule of the 2026–27 CONCACAF Nations League is as follows:[1]
| Round | Date or corresponding FIFA window[7] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| League A | League B | League C | |
| Matchday 1 | 23 September – 6 October 2026[8] | ||
| Matchday 2 | |||
| Matchday 3 | |||
| Matchday 4 | |||
| Quarter-finals | Matchday 5 | N/a | 9–17 November 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | Matchday 6 | N/a | |
| Finals | 25–28 March 2027 (League A), 22–30 March 2027 (Leagues B and C) | ||
2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
The Nations League will determine the teams qualifying directly for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup and those advancing to the Gold Cup preliminary round.[2]
Eight teams will qualify directly to the group stage:
- Four League A quarter-final round winners
- Four League B group winners
Fourteen teams will qualify for the preliminary round:
- Four League A quarter-final round losers
- Four League A group teams (third and fourth-place)
- Two League B group runners-up
- Four League A/C play-in round winners
League A
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curaçao |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 10 | Advance to quarter-finals | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | 6–1 | |
| 2 | Haiti |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 9 | — | — | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | ||
| 3 | Dominican Republic |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 9 | Qualification for Gold Cup prelims | — | 1–4 | — | — | — | 3–2 | |
| 4 | Costa Rica |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 6 | 3–4 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 5 | Trinidad and Tobago (R) |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 1 | Advance to play-in and relegation to League B | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | — | — | — | |
| 6 | Nicaragua (R) |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 0 | — | — | 1–2 | 0–3 | — | — |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guatemala |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 7 | Advance to quarter-finals | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | 6–0 | |
| 2 | Jamaica |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 | 3–2 | — | — | 0–1 | — | — | ||
| 3 | Suriname |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7 | Qualification for Gold Cup prelims | 0–0 | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | |
| 4 | Honduras |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 | — | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | — | — | ||
| 5 | Martinique (R) |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 | Advance to play-in and relegation to League B | — | — | — | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | |
| 6 | El Salvador (R) |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 4 | — | 0–2 | — | — | 3–1 | — |
League B
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guyana (H, W) |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 12 | Promotion to League A, qualification for Gold Cup, and advance to semi-finals | — | Nov | 2–0 | 8–1 | |
| 2 | Puerto Rico (H, W) |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 9 | Possible qualification for Gold Cup prelims based on ranking | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | Nov | |
| 3 | Cayman Islands (Z) |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 1 | Nov | 0–3 | — | 0–0 | ||
| 4 | Dominica (H, Z) |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 15 | −13 | 1 | Relegation to League C | 1–5 | 0–2 | Nov | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts; (W) Safe from relegation; (Z) Cannot finish higher than third
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barbados (H, W) |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 10 | Promotion to League A, qualification for Gold Cup, and advance to semi-finals | — | 2–0 | Nov | 4–1 | |
| 2 | Saint Lucia (H, W) |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 9 | Possible qualification for Gold Cup prelims based on ranking | Nov | — | 3–0 | 5–2 | |
| 3 | Guadeloupe (H) |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 4 | 2–2 | 0–1 | — | Nov | ||
| 4 | Bermuda (Z) |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 0 | Relegation to League C | 1–2 | Nov | 1–2 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts; (W) Safe from relegation; (Z) Cannot finish higher than third
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
|
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuba (H) |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 8 | Promotion to League A, qualification for Gold Cup, and advance to semi-finals | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | Nov | |
| 2 | Saint Kitts and Nevis (H) |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 8 | Possible qualification for Gold Cup prelims based on ranking | 3–3 | — | Nov | 3–0 | |
| 3 | Bonaire |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 3 | Nov | 1–2 | — | 2–3 | ||
| 4 | Grenada |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 3 | Relegation to League C | 0–3 | Nov | 1–4 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 | Promotion to League A, qualification for Gold Cup, and advance to semi-finals | — | 2–1 | Nov | 6 Oct | |
| 2 | French Guiana (H) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | Possible qualification for Gold Cup prelims based on ranking | Nov | — | 6 Oct | 1–0 | |
| 3 | Belize (H) |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | Nov | ||
| 4 | Sint Maarten |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 | Relegation to League C | 2–4 | Nov | 0–1 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Ranking of second-placed teams
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Saint Lucia |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 9 | Qualification for Gold Cup prelims |
| 2 | A | Puerto Rico |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 9 | |
| 3 | C | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 8 | |
| 4 | D | French Guiana |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Finals
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| Best Group winner | ||||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| 4th best Group winner | ||||||
| Winner SF1 | ||||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| Winner SF2 | ||||||
| 2nd best Group winner | ||||||
| 3rd best Group winner | ||||||
| Third place | ||||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| Loser SF1 | ||||||
| Loser SF2 | ||||||
League C
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montserrat |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 9 | Promotion to League B, advance to play-in and semi-finals | — | 6 Oct | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Turks and Caicos Islands (H) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 | Possible promotion to League B, advance to play-in and semi-finals based on ranking | 0–2 | — | 3–0 | |
| 3 | British Virgin Islands |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | −11 | 0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aruba |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9 | Promotion to League B, advance to play-in and semi-finals | — | 1–0 | 3–2 | |
| 2 | Antigua and Barbuda (H) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 6 | Possible promotion to League B, advance to play-in and semi-finals based on ranking | 6 Oct | — | 5–0 | |
| 3 | Anguilla |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 13 | −11 | 0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |  |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Virgin Islands (H) |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 9 | Promotion to League B, advance to play-in and semi-finals | — | 0–5 | 3–1 | |
| 2 | Saint Martin |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 6 | Possible promotion to League B, advance to play-in and semi-finals based on ranking | 0–2 | — | 6 Oct | |
| 3 | Bahamas |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 0 | 2–3 | 0–8 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Ranking of second-placed teams
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Saint Martin |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 6 | Promotion to League B, advance to play-in and semi-finals |
| 2 | B | Antigua and Barbuda |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 6 | |
| 3 | A | Turks and Caicos Islands |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Finals
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| Best Group winner | ||||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| Group runner-up | ||||||
| Winner SF1 | ||||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| Winner SF2 | ||||||
| 2nd best Group winner | ||||||
| 3rd best Group winner | ||||||
| Third place | ||||||
| March 2027 – TBD | ||||||
| Loser SF1 | ||||||
| Loser SF2 | ||||||