The 2026/27 Nations League fixture list contains four League A pairings that carry more history than the rest of the schedule combined. None of them are predictions. They are simply the matches where what has happened before weighs heaviest on what happens next.
England vs Spain — 26 September, Wembley
England open their campaign at home to the world champions. The recent record between these two is lopsided in Spain's favour: Spain beat England in the EURO 2024 final in Berlin, and the sides have not met in a competitive fixture since. For England, it is the sharpest possible test of where they actually are — not in a friendly, but against the team that beat them when it mattered. The return is on 15 November in Spain, the final matchday of the whole league phase.
Why it matters: it is the first competitive meeting since that final, and it happens in the first week of the tournament.
France vs Italy — 2 October and 12 November
Group A1 puts France and Italy together twice, and both meetings carry the weight of European football's most decorated rivalry. They have played each other in World Cup finals, European Championship finals, and everything in between. What makes the 2026/27 pair interesting is the context: both are rebuilding after tournament cycles ended, and both were drawn into a group with Belgium and Türkiye where nobody gets an easy game.
Why it matters: twice in three months, and the November meeting in Italy could decide who tops the group.
Germany vs the Netherlands — 24 September and 16 November
The tournament's opening night is also its oldest rivalry in League A. Germany and the Netherlands have been drawing each other in qualifying groups and Nations League leagues for a decade, and the fixture has rarely been dull. This time it bookends the group: the first match of the whole campaign on 24 September, and the penultimate matchday meeting on 16 November. With Serbia and Greece also in Group A2, those six points are likely to decide the group winner.
Why it matters: it opens and nearly closes the league phase, and the November return could be a decider.
Spain vs Croatia — 29 September and 12 November
The third pairing in Group A3. Spain beat Croatia on penalties in the 2023 Nations League final in Rotterdam, and the two have met repeatedly in major tournaments since. Croatia's core has aged but not declined — they reached a World Cup semi-final and a Nations League final in the same period. This is the fixture where Spain's new generation meets the last team that pushed them to a shoot-out in this competition.
Why it matters: it is a repeat of the 2023 final, and both meetings fall in the compressed September–November window.
One scheduling note worth knowing
Croatia's home fixture against England on 3 October will be played behind closed doors, a UEFA sanction unrelated to either team's supporters. England's federation has confirmed the 5pm BST kick-off. If you are planning to follow Group A3 closely, that match will look and sound very different from every other game in the group.
Which of the four you end up buying for usually follows the fixture itself. The France 2026 home stadium replica ($45.90) and the Italy 2026 home on-field jersey ($85.99) cover the France–Italy night, and the Netherlands 2026 away stadium replica ($45.90) is the away colour from the Germany fixture.
Frequently asked questions
When is England vs Spain in the Nations League?
England host Spain on 26 September 2026; the return in Spain is on 15 November 2026, the final matchday.
Which Nations League group has the biggest teams?
Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England and Czechia.
Are any matches played without fans?
Yes. Croatia vs England on 3 October 2026 will be played behind closed doors as a UEFA sanction.
