Nations League 2026/27: Groups, Fixtures, Standings and How to Watch

Last updated: 23 September 2026

The UEFA Nations League 2026/27 kicks off on Thursday 24 September 2026, and the league phase runs until Tuesday 17 November. Fifty-four European national teams are split into four leagues, Portugal start as defending champions, and the first week alone brings Netherlands vs Germany, Türkiye vs France and England vs Spain. This guide covers everything you need for the new Nations League season: how the format works, every group, the must-watch games coming up, the standings and how to watch every match live on any device.

What is the UEFA Nations League?

The Nations League is UEFA’s competition for European men’s national teams. It was launched in 2018 to replace most international friendlies with competitive matches between teams of a similar level, so every game carries real stakes. Instead of one big tournament, teams are ranked into leagues with promotion and relegation, much like a domestic club league.

The 2026/27 edition is the fifth season of the competition. It is also the first international football after the 2026 World Cup, so for many nations it is the start of a new cycle with new coaches, new squads and a fresh chance to build towards Euro 2028.

How the Nations League 2026/27 format works

The 54 teams are divided into four leagues based on the final ranking of the previous edition. Leagues A, B and C each have 16 teams in four groups of four, while League D has six teams in two groups of three. Every team plays the others in its group home and away, which means six matches for teams in Leagues A, B and C and four matches for teams in League D.

In League A, the top two teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals, which are played from 25 to 30 March 2027. The winners go through to the Nations League Finals from 9 to 13 June 2027, where the semi-finals and the final decide the champion. The bottom team in each League A group drops into League B.

In the lower leagues the prize is promotion. Group winners in Leagues B, C and D move up a level, the bottom sides drop down, and a set of play-offs in March 2027 decides the remaining places between the leagues. That is why a group like Sweden’s in League B matters so much: finishing first means a place among Europe’s elite in the next edition.

Nations League 2026/27 groups

League A is where the title will be decided, and the draw has produced four very strong groups. Holders Portugal face a Nordic double of Denmark and Norway, while World champions Spain are in the same group as England and Croatia.

Must-watch Nations League 2026 games coming up

The opening weeks are packed. This season UEFA has squeezed four matchdays into a single international break from late September to early October, so the biggest fixtures arrive almost back to back. Here are the games we are most looking forward to. Kick-off is 20:45 CET (19:45 UK time) unless stated otherwise, and you can find the complete schedule on the official UEFA Nations League fixtures page.

Netherlands vs Germany, Thursday 24 September. The season opens with one of Europe’s great rivalries, and it is Jürgen Klopp’s first match in charge of Germany. Every eye will be on how quickly his ideas show on the pitch against one of Germany’s oldest rivals.

Norway vs Denmark and Portugal vs Wales, Thursday 24 September. A Scandinavian derby on opening night, while Portugal begin their title defence at home against a Wales side that will be desperate to prove it belongs in League A.

Türkiye vs France and Italy vs Belgium, Friday 25 September. Group A1 might be the toughest of all, and it starts with two heavyweight fixtures on the same evening. The same night, Sweden open their campaign at home against Romania.

England vs Spain, Saturday 26 September. The standout fixture of the first week. Spain arrive as World champions, England want a statement win, and the result could shape the whole of Group A3. The two meet again in Spain on Sunday 15 November, in what may well be a winner-takes-all night.

Belgium vs France, Monday 28 September. A rematch packed with history between two of Europe’s most talented squads. On the same night, Sweden host Poland in a repeat of the dramatic 3–2 win that sent Sweden to the World Cup.

France vs Italy, Friday 2 October, and Croatia vs England, Saturday 3 October. Two more blockbuster nights before the October break ends. Note the earlier kick-off for Croatia vs England at 18:00 CET (17:00 UK time).

England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland Nations League 2026 fixtures

England are in Group A3 with Spain, Croatia and Czechia. They host Spain on Saturday 26 September, travel to Czechia on Tuesday 29 September and face Croatia away on Saturday 3 October at 17:00 UK time. They then host Czechia on Tuesday 6 October and Croatia on Thursday 12 November, before finishing away to Spain on Sunday 15 November.

Scotland are in Group B1 with Switzerland, Slovenia and North Macedonia, and they have a real chance to push for promotion. Their campaign starts away to Slovenia on Saturday 26 September at 14:00 UK time, followed by Switzerland at home on Tuesday 29 September and North Macedonia away on Saturday 3 October. Slovenia visit on Tuesday 6 October, North Macedonia on Friday 13 November, and Scotland finish away to Switzerland on Monday 16 November.

Wales have the hardest task of the home nations in Group A4. They open away to Portugal on Thursday 24 September, then travel to Denmark on Sunday 27 September at 17:00 UK time. Norway visit on Thursday 1 October and Denmark on Sunday 4 October, before a trip to Norway on Saturday 14 November at 17:00 UK time and a final home game against Portugal on Tuesday 17 November.

Northern Ireland are in Group B2 and begin away to Georgia on Friday 25 September at 17:00 UK time, before hosting Hungary on Monday 28 September. The Republic of Ireland are in Group B3 and open away to Kosovo on Thursday 24 September, followed by a trip to Israel on Sunday 27 September at 17:00 UK time.

Sweden and the Nordic nations in the Nations League 2026

Sweden are in League B, Group 4 with Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania, and head coach Graham Potter will be aiming for the group win that brings promotion to League A. Sweden play Romania at Strawberry Arena on Friday 25 September and Poland at home on Monday 28 September. They then travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday 2 October and Romania on Monday 5 October. The group ends with Bosnia and Herzegovina at home on Saturday 14 November and Poland away on Tuesday 17 November. All of Sweden’s games kick off at 20:45 Swedish time.

Denmark and Norway are both in League A and share a group with holders Portugal, so they meet twice this autumn: in Norway on the opening night and in Denmark on the final evening, Tuesday 17 November. Norway also host Portugal on Sunday 27 September, and Denmark welcome Portugal on Thursday 1 October. Further north and west, Finland are in Group C1, Iceland are in Group C4 and the Faroe Islands are in Group C3, all chasing promotion to League B.

Nations League 2026 favourites

Spain start as many people’s favourites. They are the reigning World champions, they won the Nations League in 2023 and they reached the final again in 2025. Portugal cannot be ignored either, having won the competition twice, and they know how to manage the pressure of a title defence.

France have the depth to beat anyone and won the trophy in 2021, but Group A1 with Italy, Belgium and Türkiye leaves very little room for error. England have never won the Nations League and a group with Spain and Croatia is a serious test, while Germany under Klopp are the great unknown of the season. With only the top two in each group reaching the quarter-finals, at least one big name will be out by November.

Nations League 2026 standings

Each group table ranks teams by points, with three points for a win and one for a draw. If teams finish level on points, the head-to-head results between them come first, followed by goal difference and goals scored. In League A, the table decides who reaches the quarter-finals and who is relegated, so even the final matchday in November can change everything.

The league phase has not started yet at the time of writing, so every team is on zero points. We will update the key standings on this page after each matchday, so bookmark it and check back once the first games are played.

Nations League winners

Portugal won the first Nations League in 2019, beating the Netherlands in the final on home soil. France lifted the trophy in 2021 with a comeback win against Spain, and Spain won it in 2023 after a penalty shoot-out against Croatia. Portugal became the first two-time winners in 2025, beating Spain in the final in Munich. That makes Portugal the most successful team in the competition’s history going into 2026/27.

How to watch the Nations League 2026/27

Nations League TV rights are sold country by country, so the official broadcaster depends on where you live. Most matches are shown on pay TV or streaming services, and very few are available on free-to-air channels. With games spread across several evenings every week, the most important thing is having a setup that lets you switch quickly between matches and watch on whatever screen is closest.

With a Mediaspelare IPTV subscription you can follow live sports on the devices you already own, including Smart TVs, Amazon Firestick, Android boxes and phones, iPhone and iPad, Apple TV, MAG boxes and computers. Setup takes a few minutes with a player app such as IPTV Smarters Pro, TiviMate, IBO Player or Hot Player. Our installation guide walks you through each device step by step.

Plans start at €13 for one month, and the 12-month plan costs €59, which covers the whole Nations League season through to the Finals in June 2027. You can compare every plan on our pricing page.

Nations League 2026/27 FAQ

Watch every Nations League night on your own screen

Four matchdays in under two weeks, England vs Spain, Klopp’s Germany debut and Sweden’s push for League A. Get set up before kick-off and choose your Mediaspelare plan today.