Nations League 2026/27: Groups, Fixtures and the Road to the Finals
Nations League 2026/27: Groups, Fixtures and the Road to the Finals
The countdown — updated October 15, 2026
The league phase is under way — Matchday 5 is 28 days out (12 November). The finals are 237 days out (9–13 June 2027).
League A: the four groups
| Group | Teams | The storyline |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | France, Italy, Belgium, Türkiye | Türkiye’s first League A campaign |
| A2 | Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece | New coaches at both Germany and the Netherlands |
| A3 | Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia | World champions meet the side they beat in the EURO 2024 final |
| A4 | Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales | The holders open their defence; Norway arrive off a World Cup quarter-final |
The window at a glance
| Matchday | Dates |
|---|---|
| MD1 | 24–26 September 2026 |
| MD2 | 27–29 September 2026 |
| MD3 | 1–3 October 2026 |
| MD4 | 4–6 October 2026 |
| MD5 | 12–14 November 2026 |
| MD6 | 15–17 November 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | 25–30 March 2027 |
| Finals | 9–13 June 2027 |
Fixtures to circle
The shirts
Six of the countries in League A, with current home shirts in stock and printing made to order.
LEAGUE ASpain 2026 Home Winners Shirt$67.80
LEAGUE A2026-2027 England Home Shirt (Watkins 19)$67.80
LEAGUE A2026-2027 Germany Home Shirt (Kimmich 6)$67.80
LEAGUE A2026-2027 France Home Shirt (Upamecano 4)$67.80
LEAGUE A2026-2027 Portugal Home Shirt (G.Ramos 9)$67.80
LEAGUE A2026-2027 Italy Home Shirt (Dimarco 3)$67.80
Every Nations League champion
Four editions have been played. Three countries have won it, and one has won it twice.
| Edition | Champion | Runner-up | Final | Host city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | Portugal | Netherlands | 1–0 | Porto |
| 2020/21 | France | Spain | 2–1 | Milan |
| 2022/23 | Spain | Croatia | 0–0 (5–4 pens) | Rotterdam |
| 2024/25 | Portugal | Spain | 2–2 (5–3 pens) | Munich |
| 2026/27 | In progress — finals 9–13 June 2027 | |||
Titles: Portugal 2 · France 1 · Spain 1. Most finals played: Spain, three (2021, 2023, 2025).
The format, and why it exists
The Nations League was devised to replace meaningless international friendlies with competitive matches between teams of similar strength. Every country is placed in a league, and promotion and relegation keep the levels honest.
The cycle is two years long. The league phase runs from September to November; the March window carries the League A quarter-finals and the promotion/relegation play-offs; the finals follow in June. A champion is crowned every two years.
From 2024/25 UEFA added a quarter-final round, so League A group winners and runners-up now play two-legged ties before the finals rather than going straight into a four-team tournament.
Promotion, relegation and the second chance
Group winners in Leagues B, C and D go up. The bottom team in each League A and League B group goes down. Everything in between is settled by home-and-away play-offs in March.
The competition also carries a route into EURO 2028 qualifying: results here give teams a second chance at the play-offs if the standard qualifying route does not go their way.
Records worth knowing
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| Most goals, all-time | Erling Haaland — 19 |
| Most titles | Portugal — 2 |
| Most final appearances | Spain — 3 |
| Biggest final win | France 2–1 Spain (2021) |
| Different champions | 3 (Portugal, France, Spain) |
Frequently asked questions
Who has won the most Nations League titles?
Portugal, with two titles from four editions — 2018/19 and 2024/25. France won in 2020/21 and Spain in 2022/23, so three different countries have won the competition.
Who won the 2024/25 Nations League?
Portugal beat Spain 2–2 after extra time and 5–3 on penalties in Munich on 8 June 2025. Nuno Mendes and Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Portugal; Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal scored for Spain.
How often is the Nations League played?
Every two years, with a champion crowned each time. The league phase runs from September to November, the quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs are in March, and the finals are in June.
How does promotion and relegation work?
Group winners in Leagues B, C and D are promoted. The bottom team in each League A and League B group is relegated. The remaining places are decided by home-and-away play-offs in March.
How many teams are in the 2026/27 Nations League?
All 54 UEFA member associations take part, split across Leagues A, B and C in groups of four and League D. League A contains 16 teams in four groups.
Who is the Nations League all-time top scorer?
Erling Haaland, with 19 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrović are next on 15.
How do teams qualify for the Nations League Finals?
From 2024/25 onwards, the winners and runners-up of each League A group go into two-legged quarter-finals in March. The four winners play the finals in June — semi-finals, a third-place match and the final.
Does the Nations League affect EURO 2028 qualifying?
Yes. The 2026/27 edition is expected to be linked to EURO 2028 qualifying: Nations League results give teams a second route into the play-offs if they do not qualify through the standard route.
