Nations League 2026/27 - Dates, matchdays and how to watch

When?

The Nations League 2026/27 starts on 24 September when Matchday One gets underway and concludes two days later.

There are a further five matchdays in the Group stage which take place on the following dates:

Matchday 2: 27-29 September 2026
Matchday 3: 30 September-3 October 2026
Matchday 4: 4-6 October 2026
Matchday 5: 12-14 November 2026
Matchday 6: 15-17 November 2026

Quarter-finals, League A/B and League B/C promotion/relegation play-offs - 25-30 March 2027

League C/D play-offs - 23-28 March 2028

Final tournament - 9-13 June 2027

How to watch

UEFA Nations League football is broadcast live in the UK by ITV and BBC. 

ITV will show all of England's matches exclusively live.

BBC will show every Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales game live.

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What is the format of the Nations League 2026/27?

Group Stage

There are four leagues (A/D/C/D), with all but one (D) containing four groups, in which each team will play each other home and away across the six matchdays this autumn.

League A

Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Türkiye
Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece
Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia
Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales

League B

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 and Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden

League C

Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino
Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia
Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova
Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg

League D

Group D1: Gibraltar, Malta, Andorra
Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

Knockout Stage

Following the league phase, the best sides of League A will have the opportunity to qualify for the finals as winners of the quarter-finals in March 2027.

There will also be promotion and relegation play-offs in March 2027.

The finals will again be contested between four teams. 

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Who are the favourites to win the Nations League 2026/27?

You can find all the Betfair Sportsbook outright markets on the Nations League here. As you'll see, the options that you can bet on go far beyond picking the winner, but here is a short guide to the prices on the leading contenders.

France 3/14.00 are the favourites to win the Nations League 2026/27 in the Betfair Sportsbook outright winner market, as they begin life under new head coach Zinedine Zidane.

Spain 10/34.33 are not far behind Les Bleus in the betting. La Roja are the defending champions and go into the tournament on a high after winning the World Cup this summer. If they are at their imperious best, as they were in the latter stages in the US, Spain will be tough to dislodge.

Germany 5/16.00 are starting a new era under Jurgen Klopp. The ex-Liverpool manager has returned to management in a bid to end several years of disappointment for Germany who endured another disappointing World Cup in the summer.

Other leading contenders - apart from England (see below) are Portugal 9/110.00 and the Netherlands 14/115.00 who are also both under new management.

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Will England win the Nations League 2026/27?

England are 5/16.00 on the Betfair Sportsbook to win the Nations League - so joint third favourites with Germany. That sounds about right after Thomas Tuchel's men finished third at the World Cup this summer.

It was England's best World Cup performance since 1966 and yet raised question marks about Tuchel's ability to bring the glory Three Lions fans crave.

Their capitulation against Argentina in the semi-finals was a familiar story, as the demons that have dogged many England managers, and which Tuchel was appointed to banish, proved to be alive and well.

Tuchel needs to convince England fans that he's the man to lead their country into Euro 2028 which they will cohost. A strong performance in this season's Nations League, with a place in the four team final arguably the minimum requirement, would be a great start.

England's group stage fixtures

England v Spain: 26 September, 19:45
Click here for full England v Spain odds

Czechia v England: 29 September, 19:45

Croatia v England: 3 October, 17:00

England v Czechia: 6 October, 19:45

England v Croatia: 12 November, 19:45

Spain v England: 15 November, 19:45

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Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - Nations League groups, Betfair prices and prospects

England aren't the only one of the Home Nations with a point to prove this season. The other three - Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - will all be motivated to give their fans somethnig to cheer.

It's 10 years since Northern Ireland appeared at a major international tournament finals (they were at Euro 2016 in France) and Michael O'Neill would love to get them to the 2028 finals, part of which will take place over the border in the Republic of Ireland, as well as in the UK. An impressive Nations League campaign would boost their hopes and the team will be out to gain important points when they play Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine in Group B2 this autumn.

Scotland promised plenty but delivered little at their first World Cup for nearly 30 years when they crashed out in the Group Stage. Steve Clarke is gone and Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli is charged with getting them to a third successive Euros as well as challenging in Nations League Group B1 against Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia.

Wales missed out on the World Cup 2026 finals in the most agonising style - losing in a qualification play-off penalty shootout to Bosnia. Manager Craig Bellamy has dusted himself down, reportedly turned down a potential job at Burnley, and is ready to steer the Dragon through a tough Nations League Group A4 against Portugal, Denmark and Norway.

Northern Ireland's group stage fixtures

Georgia v Northern Ireland v Georgia: 25 September, 17:00
Click here for full Georgia v NI odds

Northern Ireland v Hungary: 28 September, 19:45

Ukraine v Northern Ireland: 2 October, 19:45

Northern Ireland v Georgia: 5 October, 19:45

Northern Ireland v Ukraine: 14 November, 19:45

Hungary v Ireland: 17 November, 19:45

Scotland's group stage fixtures

Slovenia v Scotland: 26 September, 14:00
Click here for full Slovenia v Scotland odds

Scotland v Switzerland: 29 September, 19:45

North Macedonia v Scotland: 3 October, 19:45

Scotland v Slovenia: 6 October, 19:45

Scotland v North Macedonia: 13 November, 19:45

Switzerland v Scotland: 16 November, 19:45

Wales' group stage fixtures

Portugal v Wales: 24 September, 19:45
Click here for full Portugal v Wales odds

Denmark v Wales: 27 September, 17:00

Wales v Norway: 1 October, 19:45

Wales v Denmark: 4 October, 19:45

Norway v Wales: 14 November, 17:00

Wales v Portugal: 17 November, 19:45

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Get Nations League 2026/27 tips on Betting.Betfair

Read match previews and get Nations League tips in 2026/27 from Betting.Betfair football experts. They know European football inside out and, armed with detailed stats, know how to find the best bets.

We've also got Betfair ambassador and ex-England captain Alan Shearer writing for us, so look out for his insight on Tuchel's men.

They will preview England's matches, finding the Three Lions value with tips for every match, including player bets and bet builders, and share their recommendations in tipsheets for every evening of Nations League football.

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Bookmark our Nations League blog for tips and previews

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