The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League league phase opens with Matchday 1 fixtures staged from Thursday 24 September to Saturday 26 September 2026. All 54 UEFA member associations enter the competition across four divisions, with group winners in League A advancing to the 2027 Nations League Finals and lower-division sides contesting promotion and relegation play-offs.
What is the UEFA Nations League?
The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of UEFA, launched in 2018 to replace many uncompetitive friendly fixtures during FIFA international windows. The 54 associations are split across four leagues (A, B, C and D) of 16, 16, 16 and 6 teams respectively, with promotion and relegation between divisions each cycle.
League A, the top division, is divided into four groups of four, with the four group winners contesting a knockout Finals tournament in June 2027 to crown the Nations League champion. The competition runs in parallel with European Championship and World Cup qualifying, and league seedings also affect future draws for those qualifiers.
When is UEFA Nations League Matchday 1?
Matchday 1 runs from Thursday 24 September to Saturday 26 September 2026, inside the first FIFA international window of the 2026-27 season. The league phase continues through matchdays 2 (8-10 October), 3 (11-13 October), 4 (11-13 November), 5 (14-16 November) and 6 (17 November). Kick-off times are staggered from 18:00 to 20:45 CET to maximise broadcast windows.
Where are Matchday 1 fixtures played?
Fixtures are staged at each host nation’s home stadium. Headline venues include Wembley Stadium (England), Stade de France (France), Amsterdam ArenA (Netherlands), the Allianz Arena (Germany), San Siro (Italy), Santiago Bernabeu (Spain), Aviva Stadium (Republic of Ireland) and Hampden Park (Scotland). Smaller associations play at their national stadiums or regional grounds.
Key Contenders
Spain are the defending Nations League champions after winning the 2024-25 edition, with Portugal having won the inaugural 2018-19 tournament and France taking the 2020-21 title. Germany are the 2022-23 champions. Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, England, the Netherlands and Croatia are the historic League A heavyweights and are expected to contest the 2027 Finals places.
Lower-league contenders have traditionally included Nordic nations such as Sweden, Denmark and Norway (who won the inaugural League B in 2022-23), alongside Eastern European sides such as Poland, Romania, Hungary and Serbia. Promotion from League B to League A is often as competitive as League A itself.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, UEFA Nations League rights are shared between Channel 4 (for England fixtures) and ITV, with additional live games on Premier Sports. In Ireland, Virgin Media Television and RTE share rights. In Germany, ARD and ZDF broadcast matches free-to-air under the public service rights. In Spain, La1 and Teledeporte carry Spain internationals.
Across continental Europe, most national broadcasters hold home-nation rights through domestic deals. In the United States, Fox Sports holds the Nations League rights alongside TUDN for Spanish-language coverage. In Canada, DAZN is the primary rights holder, while international markets are serviced by various carriers including beIN Sports and SuperSport.
History and Records
The UEFA Nations League was launched in the 2018-19 season and has been won by Portugal (2019), France (2021), Spain (2023) and Spain again (2025). Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in the competition with 15 goals across its editions. The tournament has grown into one of UEFA’s flagship competitions and directly impacts European qualification for major tournaments, with playoff spots for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 European Championship drawn from Nations League standings.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for UEFA Nations League fixtures are sold through each hosting association’s official website. For high-profile fixtures involving teams such as England, France, Spain or Germany, demand often exceeds supply and tickets typically move to members and ticket scheme holders first. Prices range from around 20 euros at smaller grounds to well over 100 euros for premium seats at the leading associations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does UEFA Nations League Matchday 1 start?
Matchday 1 runs from 24 to 26 September 2026.
Where are Matchday 1 fixtures played?
At each host nation’s home stadium across Europe.
How can I watch UEFA Nations League Matchday 1?
Channel 4 and ITV in the UK, RTE in Ireland, ARD and ZDF in Germany, Fox Sports in the US.
Who won the last UEFA Nations League title?
Spain won the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League, defending the title they first claimed in 2023.