The following teams contest the play-offs, which determine their league allocations for the next edition of the competition, based on their ranking in the interim overall 2024/25 UEFA Nations League rankings at the end of the league phase:
-
The League A/B play-offs are contested by:
-
the four third-ranked teams from League A, ranked 9th to 12th in the interim overall rankings;
-
the four runners-up from League B, ranked 21st to 24th in the interim overall rankings.
-
-
The League B/C play-offs are contested by:
-
the four third-ranked teams from League B, ranked 25th to 28th in the interim overall rankings;
-
the four runners-up from League C, ranked 37th to 40th in the interim overall rankings.
-
-
The League C/D play-offs are contested by:
-
the two best-ranked fourth-placed teams from League C, ranked 45th and 46th in the interim overall rankings;
-
the two runners-up from League D, ranked 51st and 52nd in the interim overall rankings.
-
The play-off pairings are determined by means of a draw. The teams from the higher league are seeded and are drawn against teams from the lower league. Additional draw conditions may be applied, subject to approval by the UEFA Executive Committee.
The play-offs are played according to the knockout system, with each team playing its opponent twice, once at home and once away. The team that scores the greater aggregate of goals over the two legs wins the play-off tie. Otherwise, the provisions of Article 18 apply.
In each play-off match, the team from the lower league plays the first leg at home.
If any of the teams due to participate in the League C/D play-offs qualifies for the European Qualifier play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in March 2026, the League C/D play-offs are not played. The two teams ranked 46th and 47th in the interim overall UEFA Nations League rankings (see Article 19) remain in League C for the next edition of the competition, and the two teams ranked 50th and 51st remain in League D.