Nations League: What England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland have to play for and impact on World Cup qualifying

Promotion, relegation and the trophy are not the only things up for grabs in the final round of Nations League games, with potential impacts on 2026 World Cup qualifying.

BBC Sport looks at what England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have to play for in the Nations League itself - and how it ties into the next World Cup.

Four teams will qualify for a play-off to reach the World Cup via the Nations League.

They are the four best-ranked group winners who do not go on to finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group next year.

With teams in the top Nations League division highly likely to qualify for the World Cup through European qualifying - and many teams in the second tier too - it gives an extra incentive for teams across Leagues B and C.

If England finish top of Group B2 or Wales in B4, they would be extremely likely to have a World Cup play-off spot banked.

Northern Ireland currently top C3, which would give them at least a chance.

Scotland, bottom of A1, are not in the running to get a play-off spot through the Nations League.

The four teams who get into the play-offs via the Nations League will be put in with the 12 teams who finish second in their World Cup qualifying groups - with four spots for 2026 up for grabs.

There will be 16 European nations at the expanded 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico - meaning qualifying will look different to before.

There will be 12 groups, containing either four or five teams each, drawn on 13 December.

This will not affect any of the UK nations, but the teams who finish in the top two in each group in League A will go into a World Cup qualifying group containing four teams.

Any team in the various Nations League promotion-relegation play-offs in March will not start World Cup qualifying until June, or possibly September.