England's Nations League quarter-final draw explained: who they could face and when

England moved to the brink of a UEFA Nations League quarter-final berth with Tuesday’s victory over the Czech Republic, leaving them virtually assured of a top-two finish in Group A3 alongside Spain. The key remaining question is whether Gareth Southgate’s successor can overhaul Spain — who lead by three points with two games left — to claim top spot, a result that would significantly alter England’s knockout path.

How the quarter-final draw works

The draw pairs the four League A group winners against the four group runners-up in two-legged knockout ties. Group winners are seeded and host the second leg, giving them a home advantage in the decisive match. One important restriction applies: teams cannot be drawn against a side they have already faced in the group stage.

Who could England face?

Should England finish as group runners-up, they would be drawn against one of the four League A group winners. As things stand, the other group leaders are France, the Netherlands and Portugal — three of European football’s heavyweights. If results shift over the final round of fixtures, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Germany and Denmark could also enter the picture as potential opponents.

Finishing top of Group A3 would instead see England drawn against a group runner-up, which could open up a marginally more favourable route through the last eight.

When is the draw and when are the ties played?

UEFA will conduct the quarter-final draw at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, in late November 2026, once all group stage fixtures have been completed. The draw will also establish the semi-final paths, giving teams a clear picture of the potential route to the final.

The quarter-final ties themselves are scheduled to take place across two legs between 25 and 30 March 2027, with extra time and penalties used to settle any ties that remain level on aggregate.

What happens if England progress?

Winning a quarter-final would earn England a place in the Nations League final four, a single-leg mini-tournament hosted by a neutral country from 9 to 13 June 2027. That event comprises two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final, with the winners crowned UEFA Nations League champions.