Article 30 Pitches - Nations League

Regulations of the UEFA Nations League

Content Type
Competition Regulations
Category
National teams > Nations League
ft:locale
en-GB
Edition
2026/27
Enforcement Date
15 December 2025
30.01

The host association must make every reasonable effort to ensure that the pitch is in the best possible condition for play. If the climatic conditions so require, facilities such as pitch heating and a pitch cover must be provided, to ensure that the field of play is in a suitable condition on every match date. The UEFA administration or a third party mandated by UEFA may carry out pitch inspections at any time before and during the competition to check whether the pitch is in a suitable condition to host matches in the competition. Following any initial pitch inspection and recommendation report, the cost of any further inspections or the provision of expert guidance or material by a third party shall be assumed by the association concerned. Associations are requested to cooperate fully with such inspections.

30.02

The associations must respect the relevant pitch protection maps for training sessions on the day before the match (if applicable), the pre-match warm-ups and any post-match cool-downs.

30.03

Any full or partial replacement of a pitch ahead of a match must be communicated to UEFA in advance. UEFA reserves the right to inspect the pitch.

30.04

The host association must respect the pitch-cutting guidelines for natural grass pitches. The height of the grass must not exceed 30mm and the entire playing surface must be cut to the same height. The height of the grass should be the same for both the training sessions and the match. If deemed necessary by the referee or the UEFA match delegate, the host association may be required to reduce the height of the grass for the match and training sessions.

30.05

Any pitch watering as of 90 minutes before kick-off must be done evenly across the whole pitch and for a maximum of 7 minutes at a time during the following periods:

  1. before the pre-match warm-up period; and/or

  2. between warm-up and kick-off; and/or

  3. during half-time.

The host association (or UEFA in the finals) must communicate its plans at the organisational meeting, and any change to the announced schedule must be agreed to later on by both associations and UEFA. The referee can make changes to the pitch-watering schedule at any time.

30.06

Associations are not allowed any commercial, promotional or fan entertainment activities on the field of play during the pre-match warm-up or from the moment the teams are ready to kick off until after the final whistle (except at half-time, subject to the approval of the UEFA administration).

30.07

All field markings and goals must be in accordance with the IFAB Laws of the Game and the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations. No additional structural elements or physical supports may be used inside the net or in its immediate surroundings other than bars fixing the goal net to the ground and goal net stanchions behind and outside the net. Portable goals must not be used.

30.08

The host association is responsible for ensuring that the area immediately adjacent to the field of play is safe for players, team officials and the referee team in accordance with the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, temporarily installing additional, high-quality, green artificial turf around the field of play if necessary.