The league phase draw for the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League was held on Thursday, 12 February 2026, in Brussels, giving Europe’s 54 national teams their group stage opponents for the fifth edition of the biennial competition. The draw sets the stage for intense international football beginning in September 2026 and running through the winter, with quarter-finals and potential finals to follow in 2027.
The Nations League which blends league-style competition with promotion and relegation and provides additional routes into major tournaments like the European Championship returns with all of Europe’s top sides involved, creating fresh rivalries and compelling matchups across its four tiers, known as Leagues A, B, C and D.
League A: Elite Matchups and Tough Tests
At the top of the pyramid, League A features Europe’s traditional powerhouses and former Nations League finalists. The 16 teams drawn into this elite division were placed into four groups of four:
• Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey
• Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece
• Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia
• Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales
This lineup promises some mouth-watering fixtures. In Group A3, for example, England fresh from promotion back to League A was drawn with Spain, Croatia and Czechia, setting up highly competitive clashes between European heavyweights.
Similarly, Group A4 sees defending Nations League champions Portugal pitted against Denmark, Norway and Wales a balanced pool that could hinge on key late matchdays.
These groups will not only determine who advances to the quarter-finals of the Nations League but also who faces the pressure of avoiding relegation to League B. The winners and runners-up in each group will progress to home-and-away quarter-finals in March 2027, with the winners qualifying for the Nations League Finals the following summer.
League B: Mid-Tier Battles With Promotion on the Line
League B, the second tier of competition, also features 16 teams drawn into four competitive groups. Promotion to League A and avoidance of relegation to League C will animate many of these ties:
• Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia
• Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland
• Group B3: Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kosovo
• Group B4: Poland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden
Scotland kicking off against Switzerland and Slovenia provides a stern test for the Scots, while the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland found themselves in different groups, ensuring each side’s Nations League journey is unique.
Promotion from League B comes with the promise of facing Europe’s elite next cycle, while the bottom-placed teams in B face the threat of sliding into League C making every matchday crucial in this tightly contested stratum.
League C: Wide Mix of Nations and Competitive Ambitions
League C continues the structure with another 16 nations split into four groups, representing a broad cross-section of UEFA membership. As with higher leagues, teams will be vying for promotion and to avoid relegation:
• Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino
• Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia or Gibraltar*
• Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova
• Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg or Malta*
(Some teams are placeholders pending the outcome of the 2024/25 League C/D play-offs in March 2026.)
League C offers opportunities for emerging football nations to build momentum and push for promotion into League B. At the same time, the threat of relegation to the lowest tier League D remains a motivating factor for sides aiming to preserve their status.
League D: The Final Tier and Pathway for Smaller Nations
The final tier, League D, consists of the six lowest-ranked UEFA nations. They have been drawn into two groups:
• Group D1: Gibraltar or Latvia*, Malta or Luxembourg*, Andorra
• Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein
(Teams still to be finalised following the League C/D play-offs.)
Though smaller in profile, these fixtures are vital for the countries involved not only as competitive international matches but also as potential springboards to higher leagues in future editions.
Format, Fixtures and the Road Ahead
The Nations League calendar is now set in motion. The league phase will begin in late September 2026, with fixtures spread across two international windows:
- Matchdays 1–4: 24–26 September to 4–6 October 2026
- Matchdays 5–6: 12–17 November 2026
After the group phase, the competition transitions to the knockout stages:
- Quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs: 25–30 March 2027
- Final tournament: 9–13 June 2027 (for League A group qualifiers)
Teams finishing at the bottom of their groups will face relegation to the lower league for the next edition, while group winners (and in some cases runners-up) will have the chance to earn promotion, keeping stakes high throughout.
Implications and Early Reactions
The draw has already sparked conversation across Europe. In the top tier, England’s group containing Spain, Croatia and Czechia rekindles high-profile rivalries and sets up matches that fans will circle on their calendars. Spain and England, recent European Championship finalists, renewing their rivalry in this competition adds extra spice to Group A3.
Similarly, defending champions Portugal landing in a balanced Group A4 with Denmark, Norway and Wales promises intriguing tests, with all teams eyeing strong Nations League campaigns to build toward finals and boost rankings.
Across Leagues B, C and D, national teams are focused on both progression and the competitive integrity of the Nations League’s merit-based structure one that rewards performance with promotion and penalises underachievement with relegation.
Revamped Calendar and Competitive Purpose
The UEFA Nations League forms a central part of Europe’s revamped international calendar, designed to reduce inconsequential friendlies and increase meaningful competitive fixtures across the 54 UEFA nations. The format encourages footballing nations of all sizes to compete regularly at appropriate levels, fostering growth and national team development.
Beyond the Nations League itself, the results also have implications for seeding and qualification routes into major tournaments like EURO 2028, where Nations League performance can influence playoff opportunities and ranking positions.
Looking Toward the Kick-Off
With the draw complete and the groups confirmed, national team coaches are already outlining plans, scouting opponents and mapping out strategies for what promises to be another fiercely contested edition of Europe’s premier international team competition.
The Nations League, with its mix of established giants and rising underdogs, once again promises to deliver drama, narrative twists and national pride across stadiums from Reykjavik to Istanbul when matchdays kick off in September 2026.
