The UEFA Nations League kicks off this Thursday, September 24, with a schedule packed with major international matches. The opening round features high-stakes matchups in League A, promising debuts in League B, and key matchups in League D.
League A: Clashes of the Titans and the Start of the Title Defense
The top tier of the European tournament features the defending champions’ debut and one of the most thrilling classics in European soccer:
- Netherlands vs. Germany (Group A2). The Dutch national team hosts the German squad in a star-studded matchup with an unpredictable outcome in Group A2.
- Portugal vs. Wales (Group A4). With Nuno Mendes among its star players, the Portuguese team begins its defense of the Nations League title by hosting Wales at home.
- Norway vs. Denmark (Group A4). An intriguing Scandinavian showdown in which both teams will look to strike first in the group.
- Serbia vs. Greece (Group A2). A closely matched contest on Serbian soil to round out the schedule for the top division.
All League A matches played this Thursday are scheduled for 8:45 p.m. CET (2:45 p.m. Eastern Time).
League B: Heavy Artillery and a Historic Debut
Europe’s second-tier division features two key matchups on September 24:
- Austria vs. Israel (Group B3): The Austrian team, which stood out in the previous edition by scoring 14 goals in this division, kicks off its campaign by hosting Israel.
- Kosovo vs. Republic of Ireland (Group B3): Kosovo makes its historic debut in League B. All eyes will be on forward Vedat Muriqi, who sealed his country’s promotion with a hat trick in the playoffs and is coming off four goals over the weekend with Fenerbahçe.
League D: Rematches and a quest for redemption
Thursday’s action is rounded out by matches in League D:
- Andorra vs. Malta (Group D1): The two teams meet again after facing off in the previous edition, where Malta won both matches 1-0.
- Liechtenstein vs. Lithuania (Group D2): Lithuania begins its journey back to League C with a visit to Liechtenstein, in a matchup where both teams will look to end their winless streaks after failing to secure victories in the previous tournament.
