2026/27 UEFA Nations League: Complete Fixture Guide, Dates & European Kick-Off Times

Dates are as earmarked by UEFA for the fifth edition. The Wednesday of Matchday 3 (30 September) is not a regular fixture day but may be used to schedule matches.

The 2026/27 league phase spans two daylight-saving states, which matters if you are converting times for a non-European audience:

Matches on 24 September to 6 October fall under CEST (UTC+2). The November rounds on 12–17 November fall under CET (UTC+1). The British offset does not change between the two blocks, because the UK moves from BST to GMT at the same time as continental Europe moves from CEST to CET — kick-offs remain one hour later in Central Europe than in the UK throughout. The US Eastern offset is also stable across both windows at six hours.

• Netherlands vs Germany — Thu 24 Sep, 20:45, League A Group A2. The opening night's headline match, and a rivalry with a competitive edge that stretches back to the 1974 World Cup final and the Euro 88 semi-final.
• England vs Spain — Sat 26 Sep, 20:45, League A Group A3. The first competitive meeting since the Euro 2024 final. Spain arrive as world champions after beating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in July.
• Portugal vs Wales — Thu 24 Sep, 20:45, League A Group A4. The holders open their defence at home, against opponents they beat in the Euro 2016 semi-final.
• Italy vs Belgium — Fri 25 Sep, 20:45, League A Group A1. Group A1 also contains France and Türkiye, so the top half of this group will be decided quickly.
• Spain vs England — Sun 15 Nov, 20:45, League A Group A3. The return fixture on the final matchday — a group decider on paper if both do their job in October.
• Germany vs Netherlands — Mon 16 Nov, 20:45, League A Group A2. The reverse of the opening night, closing the league phase.

• League A. Four groups of four. The group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals in March 2027. The fourth-placed team in each group is relegated to League B.
• League B. Four groups of four. Group winners are promoted to League A; fourth-placed teams drop to League C.
• League C. Four groups of four. Group winners are promoted to League B. The bottom teams face League C/D play-offs, staged separately in March 2028.
• League D. Two groups. Group winners are promoted to League C.
• Finals. The four quarter-final winners contest a single-venue final tournament from 9 to 13 June 2027, with semi-finals, a third-place match and a final.
• EURO 2028 link. Nations League results are expected to provide a second qualification route, through the play-offs, for UEFA EURO 2028.

Portugal are the only nation to have won the competition twice. Spain have reached the final in each of the last two editions and lost both on penalties.

When does the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League start?

The league phase opens on 24 September 2026 and runs to 17 November 2026, across six matchdays. The opening block from 24 September to 6 October contains four of those six rounds.

What time do Nations League matches kick off?

UEFA lists a default kick-off of 20:45 Central European time, which is 19:45 in the UK and 14:45 US Eastern. Selected fixtures in Leagues B, C and D are scheduled earlier, at 15:00, 16:00 or 18:00 CET/CEST.

How many teams are in the 2026/27 Nations League?

Fifty-four UEFA member associations, divided into League A, B, C and D. Leagues A, B and C each have four groups of four; League D has two groups of three.

How many matches are in the league phase?

156 fixtures across six matchdays, with 26 matches per matchday.

Who are the reigning Nations League champions?

Portugal, who beat Spain 5–3 on penalties in Munich in June 2025 after a 2–2 draw following extra time. It was their second title, after 2019.

When are the Nations League finals?

The final tournament takes place from 9 to 13 June 2027, contested by four teams. The host has not been confirmed.

Do Nations League results affect EURO 2028 qualification?

Yes. The 2026/27 edition is expected to be linked to the EURO 2028 play-off route, giving teams a second chance to reach the finals hosted by the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

More from the 2026/27 season:

Domestic leagues continue around the international calendar:

Fixture dates and kick-off times in this guide follow the schedule published by UEFA for the 2026/27 league phase. Kick-off times are subject to change; always check the competition's official channels before travelling. Shirts shown are part of the store's 2026/27 national team range and were priced correctly at the time of publication.