UEFA Nations League 2026/27: Groups, Teams, Fixtures, Rankings & Guide

How does the UEFA Nations League work?

The UEFA Nations League groups European national teams into four divisions — League A, League B, League C and League D — ranked broadly by ability, so nations play competitive matches against opponents of a similar level rather than facing a mix of elite and minor teams in the same qualifying group. Each division is split into groups of three or four teams, who play each other home and away across three international windows in September, October and November.

• League phase: six matches per team (four for smaller League D groups), running 24 September to 17 November 2026.
• Quarter-finals: the four League A group winners qualify for a straight knockout quarter-final round in March 2027.
• Finals: the four quarter-final winners contest the semi-finals and final in June 2027 to decide the overall Nations League champion.
• Promotion: group winners in League B, C and D are promoted to the division above for the next edition.
• Relegation: the bottom-placed team in each League A, B and C group is typically relegated to the division below.
• Qualifying pathway: Nations League standings can also feed into play-off routes for teams that miss out on direct qualification for major tournaments through standard qualifying groups.

Portugal are the defending champions, having won the previous edition's final against Spain in Munich — and they now defend that title from the top seed in League A Group 4, against Denmark, Norway and Wales.

League A groups & teams 2026/27

League A brings together Europe's 16 highest-ranked national teams across four groups of four. Here's the full breakdown before the detailed fixture lists below.

League A, Group 1: France, Italy, Belgium & Türkiye

A genuine heavyweight pool featuring two former world champions in France and Italy, alongside a Belgium side still built around a golden generation and a Türkiye team growing in confidence on the international stage.

France rotate home fixtures between major stadiums including the Parc des Princes and Stade de France — check the official French federation site for confirmed venues, and book flights to Paris well ahead for any home fixture given year-round travel demand. Italy similarly rotate their home venue across several major Italian cities each campaign. Belgium play home fixtures at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, a short flight or train journey (via Eurostar) from the UK. Türkiye typically host at major Istanbul venues — for full flight options to Istanbul, see our flights to Istanbul page. Tickets for all four nations are sold through each federation's official channels; broadcast details for UK viewers are confirmed closer to each international window.

League A, Group 2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia & Greece

Two of European football's most storied nations in Germany and the Netherlands headline this group, with Serbia's physical, direct style and a resurgent Greece completing a genuinely competitive four.

Germany rotate home venues across the country's major stadiums. Netherlands typically play at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam or De Kuip in Rotterdam. Serbia host at the Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade. Greece play home fixtures at the OAKA Olympic Stadium in Athens — a popular add-on city break for UK football travellers given regular direct flights. Tickets for each nation's home fixtures are available through their respective federation websites, with UK broadcast details confirmed closer to matchday.

League A, Group 3: Spain, Croatia, England & Czechia

The headline group of the entire competition: reigning World and European champions Spain face England in a rematch of the Euro 2024 final, alongside a dangerous, tournament-tested Croatia and a well-organised Czechia side. For the full breakdown of England's fixtures, tickets, squads and travel, see our dedicated England vs Spain 2026 guide.

*England's away trip to Croatia will be played behind closed doors due to a UEFA sanction against the Croatian federation.

Spain host England at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid on 15 November. Croatia play home fixtures at the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb. England play every home fixture at Wembley Stadium, London — full ticket, squad and travel details in our England vs Spain guide. Czechia host at the Sinobo Stadium (Fortuna Arena) in Prague, a popular short-break destination for travelling England fans given cheap direct flights.

League A, Group 4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway & Wales

Defending champions Portugal face a Wales side newly promoted back into League A, alongside a talented Denmark and a Norway team riding Erling Haaland's outstanding club form. For the full breakdown of Wales' fixtures, tickets, squads and travel, see our dedicated Wales Nations League 2026 guide.

Portugal host Wales at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on 24 September — full details in our Wales Nations League guide. Denmark play home fixtures at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. Norway host at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo. Wales play home fixtures at Cardiff City Stadium, easily reached from across the UK by rail without needing to fly.

League B groups & teams 2026/27

League B sits just below the elite tier, featuring nations capable of testing — and occasionally beating — League A opposition, with group winners earning promotion for the next edition.

League B, Group 1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia & North Macedonia

Scotland play home fixtures at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Switzerland rotate home venues, often including St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Slovenia host at the Stožice Stadium in Ljubljana. North Macedonia play at the Toše Proeski Arena in Skopje. Group winners are promoted to League A for the next edition.

League B, Group 2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia & Northern Ireland

Hungary play home fixtures at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest. Ukraine currently play home matches at alternative, neutral venues due to the ongoing situation in the country — check the Ukrainian federation's official channels for the confirmed host city before booking travel. Georgia host at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi. Northern Ireland play home fixtures at Windsor Park, Belfast.

League B, Group 3: Austria, Israel, Republic of Ireland & Kosovo

Austria play home fixtures at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. Israel currently play home matches at alternative venues outside Israel — check the Israeli federation's official channels for the confirmed host venue before booking travel. Republic of Ireland host at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, a short and popular flight from most UK airports. Kosovo play home fixtures at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.

League B, Group 4: Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania & Sweden

Poland often host at the PGE Narodowy in Warsaw. Bosnia and Herzegovina play home fixtures at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica. Romania host at the Arena Națională in Bucharest. Sweden play home fixtures at the Friends Arena in Stockholm.

League C & League D: the wider Nations League field

Below League B, League C and League D contain the remaining UEFA member associations, including nations such as Albania, Belarus, San Marino, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Moldova, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Iceland, Estonia, Armenia, Latvia, Montenegro, Cyprus, Andorra, Malta, Gibraltar, Lithuania, Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan, all playing across the same September to November league phase. Winners of League C and D groups earn promotion, giving every UEFA nation a genuine pathway up through the divisions over successive editions.

Planning your Nations League travel

Whichever nation you follow, the same principles apply: book flights and accommodation as early as possible once fixtures and venues are confirmed, check each federation's official ticketing channel rather than unofficial resale sites, and factor in that several matchdays fall on weekdays across three separate international windows, meaning multiple short trips rather than one long one for supporters following their team through every fixture.

For England and Wales fans specifically, our dedicated guides cover full ticket, squad and travel details: England vs Spain 2026 and Wales Nations League 2026. For every other fixture, start planning your trip on our UEFA Nations League 2026 event hub, where you'll find live fare comparisons and travel updates as ticket and broadcast details are confirmed.