UEFA Nations League 2026-27: fifth edition begins with September double-header

The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League will begin on 24 September 2026, with Europe’s national teams entering the competition’s fifth edition across six rounds of league-stage fixtures.

The opening phase will run until 17 November 2026. The first match window is scheduled for 24-26 September, followed by games from 27-29 September, 30 September-3 October, 4-6 October, 12-14 November and 15-17 November.

The opening programme includes Netherlands v Germany at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Serbia v Greece at Rajko Mitic, Portugal v Wales at Jose Alvalade, Norway v Denmark at Ullevaal and England v Spain at Wembley.

Other first-round fixtures include Turkiye v France, Italy v Belgium, Czech Republic v Croatia and a number of matches involving teams in the lower leagues. The competition’s group-stage schedule is divided into four groups in each league, with promotion and relegation determining movement between levels.

The quarter-finals of League A and the promotion-relegation play-offs between Leagues A and B and between Leagues B and C will take place from 25-30 March 2027. The Nations League finals are scheduled for 9-13 June 2027, while the League C and League D play-offs are due to be held from 23-28 March 2028.

Matches are listed to take place at venues including Wembley, the Johan Cruyff Arena, San Siro, the Stade de France, Parken, the Estadio Metropolitano, Hampden Park, Aviva Stadium and the Cardiff City Stadium.

The later league-stage fixtures include Turkiye v Belgium, Italy v France, England v Croatia and Czech Republic v Spain on 12 November. Netherlands v Greece, Serbia v Germany, Norway v Wales and Portugal v Denmark follow on 13-14 November.

The final round features Belgium v Italy, France v Turkiye, Croatia v Czech Republic and Spain v England on 15 November, before Germany v Netherlands and Greece v Serbia on 16 November. Denmark v Norway and Wales v Portugal complete the schedule on 17 November.

In League B, the programme includes Kosovo v Republic of Ireland, Austria v Israel, Georgia v Northern Ireland, Hungary v Ukraine, Poland v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden v Romania, Slovenia v Scotland and North Macedonia v Switzerland.

League C includes Armenia v Latvia, Montenegro v Cyprus, Faroe Islands v Kazakhstan, Iceland v Estonia, Bulgaria v Luxembourg, San Marino v Finland, Albania v Belarus and Slovakia v Moldova. League D begins with Liechtenstein v Lithuania and Andorra v Malta.

Portugal won the inaugural Nations League in 2019 by beating Netherlands 1-0. France defeated Spain 2-1 in the 2021 final, while Spain won the 2023 edition on penalties against Croatia. Portugal claimed the 2025 title after another shoot-out victory over Spain.

Portugal have won the competition twice, Spain and France once each. Netherlands and Croatia have finished runners-up, while Italy have twice taken third place.

beIN Sports holds the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026-27 Nations League, with live streaming available through TOD TV.