The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League league phase runs from 24 September to 17 November 2026, played across six matchdays. League A group winners and runners-up advance to quarter-finals in March 2027; the finals are scheduled for 9–13 June 2027.
Below is the full calendar, the four League A groups, and the knockout dates that follow. All kick-off times are listed by UEFA as 20:45 local Central European time unless stated.
Key facts
- Fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League, featuring 54 European national teams.
- League phase: 24 September – 17 November 2026.
- Quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs: 25–30 March 2027.
- Finals: 9–13 June 2027 (host not yet confirmed).
- Reigning champions: Portugal, who won the 2025 final on penalties.
- Format note: from the 2028/29 edition the competition moves to a three-league structure.
The six league phase matchdays
| Matchday | Dates (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 24–26 September | Opens with Netherlands vs Germany |
| Matchday 2 | 27–29 September | Belgium vs France, Türkiye vs Italy |
| Matchday 3 | 1–3 October | France vs Italy, Spain vs Czechia |
| Matchday 4 | 4–6 October | Croatia vs Spain, France vs Belgium |
| Matchday 5 | 12–14 November | Italy vs France, England vs Croatia |
| Matchday 6 | 15–17 November | Spain vs England, Germany vs Netherlands |
UEFA has earmarked 30 September as an exceptional scheduling day for Matchday 3 fixtures, so a small number of games may sit outside the standard window. The headline dates above are the confirmed ones.
One window, four matches
The structural change this edition is the start. Rather than the usual two-game international break, the league phase opens with a single extended window from 24 September to 6 October 2026, in which most teams play four Nations League matches in close succession. That compresses the entire autumn campaign into roughly a fortnight and a half, and it is why Matchdays 1 through 4 all fall within the same calendar month.
For anyone planning viewing time, that means the tournament effectively has two blocks: the September–October block (four matchdays) and the November block (two matchdays). There is no league phase football at all between 6 October and 12 November.
League A groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A1 | France, Italy, Belgium, Türkiye |
| A2 | Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece |
| A3 | Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia |
| A4 | Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales |
Group A3 is the standout on paper: reigning World Cup winners Spain, a Croatia side that has reached two major finals this decade, England, and Czechia. Every team in that group plays six games between 26 September and 17 November.
Times in your own time zone
Most fixtures kick off at 20:45 in Central Europe. A handful are moved earlier — 15:00 or 16:00 or 18:00 — usually for travel or broadcast reasons in the smaller nations. Here is what the standard 20:45 slot looks like elsewhere:
| Region | Local time | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Central Europe | 20:45 | Same evening |
| United Kingdom | 19:45 | Same evening |
| US Eastern | 14:45 | Same afternoon |
| China (Beijing) | 02:45 | Next morning |
That one-hour difference between the Central European clock and British clocks is the reason coverage in different countries sometimes lists the same match on different dates: a 24 September 20:45 kick-off in Amsterdam is already the early hours of 25 September in Asia. Both dates are correct; they are just different clocks.
After the league phase
When the group stage closes on 17 November, the competition pauses until late March. The quarter-finals — and the promotion/relegation play-offs between Leagues A/B and B/C — are scheduled for 25–30 March 2027. The four-team finals follow on 9–13 June 2027. The League C/D play-offs are held much later, in March 2028, because League D reorganises into the new three-league structure.
If the calendar has already told you which matchday you are going to, the shirt question is easier than it looks. The Spain 2026 home replica and the England 2026 home stadium replica are both $45.90 in the same tier and the same cut — so with Group A3's two heavyweights meeting in the league phase, the decision is really just colour.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026/27 Nations League start?
The league phase begins on 24 September 2026, with the first batch of fixtures spread across 24–26 September.
When does it end?
The league phase concludes on 17 November 2026. The knockout rounds resume in March 2027 and the finals run 9–13 June 2027.
How many teams take part?
54 European national teams, split into Leagues A, B, C and D.
Which group is the strongest?
Group A3 pairs Spain, Croatia, England and Czechia — the only League A group containing two recent World Cup or European Championship finalists.
