European Nations League: Northern Ireland may face Scotland and the Republic of Ireland

There are four groups containing four teams in Leagues A, B and C and two groups of three teams in League D.

The winners and runners-up of the four first league groups will qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they will play over two matches in March 2027, with the semi-finals and final taking place in June 2027.

There are also MLS promotion and relegation play-offs at the same time in March 2027.

The best-performing Nations League teams that did not qualify for Euro 2028 will enter the qualifiers for the final qualifying places for the tournament.

Topping Group C3 in 2024 gives Northern Ireland a back route into the World Cup qualifiers, and a good performance in League B could provide a similar passage to the 2028 European Championship if O’Neill’s side do not automatically qualify.

Nations League schedule:

Match 1: September 24-26

Match 2: September 27-29

Match 3: September 30 – October 3

Match 4: October 4-6

Match 5: November 12-14

Match 6: November 15-17

League A quarter-finals: March 25-30, 2027

League A/B and B/C qualifiers: March 25-30, 2027

Final tournament: June 9-13, 2027

C/D League Qualifiers: March 23-28, 2028