The 2026–27 UEFA Nations League kicks off Thursday, September 24, launching a new era for European football just months after the 2026 World Cup.
New international break format
The commencement of the new UEFA Nations League is part of FIFA’s newly restructured international calendar, which combines a 16-day window running September 21 through October 6 that condenses what used to be separate September and October breaks.
Managerial debuts
This opening window becomes especially compelling with the wave of blockbuster managerial hires following this summer’s World Cup. Jürgen Klopp, out of club management since leaving Liverpool, coaches his first game as Germany’s head coach against Netherlands, led by newly appointed Xavi Hernández. Zinédine Zidane finally gets his start for France against Türkiye, Portugal make their debut under veteran Jorge Jesus, and Roberto Mancini returns for a second spell in charge of Italy.
Nations League format & schedule
UEFA Nations League A’s top tier features 16 nations split into four groups:
- A1: France, Italy, Belgium and Türkiye
- A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia and Greece
- A3: Spain, Croatia, England and Czechia
- A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Wales
Four of the six group-stage matchdays will be played within this FIFA window, with the remaining two taking place in November. From there, the top two from each group will advance to the quarterfinals in March 2027, followed by the semifinals and final in June 2027.
This Nations League cycle promises to set an early tone as teams prepare for the road to Euro 2028 in the UK.
