What happened: Concacaf held the official draw for the 2026/27 Nations League in Miami, setting groups across three tiers ahead of September-October and November FIFA match windows. League A's 12 lowest-ranked sides enter a Swiss-style group stage, while the four highest-ranked teams advance straight to the Quarterfinals. The tournament culminates in March 2027 with the League A Finals at SoFi Stadium and, for the first time, centralized Championships for Leagues B and C.
Why it matters: The competition now doubles as qualifying for the 2027 Gold Cup, raising the stakes on group and quarterfinal results. Leagues B and C also carry promotion and relegation into the tier above, meaning group finishes reshape next cycle's field.
By the numbers: League A: 16 teams, 12 in a Swiss-format group stage split into two six-team groups (four matches each), before joining direct entrants for the Quarterfinals. League B: 16 teams in four groups of four, six matches each at centralized venues. League C: nine teams in three groups of three, four matches each at centralized venues.
What to watch: Group Stage play begins in the September-October FIFA Match Window, with League A Quarterfinals following in November on a home-and-away basis ahead of the March 2027 Finals.