UEFA Nations League kicks off international soccer’s revamped global calendar
Portugal, Spain, France and Germany lead Thursday’s draw as UEFA reduces early-season breaks while keeping a packed schedule of international matches.
On Thursday, February 12, the draw for the Nations League group stage takes place, marking the start of a new global schedule for international soccer. Portugal, winner of the last edition, begins its title defense against a competitive field that includes Spain, France and Germany.
The draw, at 12pm ET, follows UEFA’s congress in Brussels and determines the groups for a tournament where Portugal has claimed two titles and Spain and France have one. The revamped schedule reduces early-season international windows from three to two, keeping the traditional March and June breaks after domestic leagues and the Champions League conclude.
Top teams avoid early matchups
Portugal won last year’s title by defeating Spain in Munich in June. As top seeds alongside France and Germany, these four nations, all participants in last edition’s Final Four, will not meet in the group stage.
The September international break will run from September 24 to October 6, featuring up to four matchdays, while the remaining two matchdays will be played in November. The League A quarterfinals are scheduled for March 25-30, 2027, with the finals taking place June 9-13, 2027.
Despite fewer breaks, FIFA’s schedule does not reduce the total number of matches. The goal is to cut down on interruptions during the club season, but international fixtures remain as packed as ever.
New UEFA Nations League schedule
- Matchday 1: Sept. 24-26, 2026
- Matchday 2: Sept. 27-29, 2026
- Matchday 3: Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2026
- Matchday 4: Oct. 4-6, 2026
- Matchday 5: Nov. 12-14, 2026
- Matchday 6: Nov. 15-17, 2026
- League A quarterfinals: March 25-30, 2027
- Playoffs (League A/B and B/C): March 25-30, 2027
- Final tournament: June 9-13, 2027
Big names in League A
League A features the top-ranked national teams based on past tournament performance. The competition includes promotion and relegation, with England, Norway, Czech Republic, Wales, Greece and Turkey the teams moving up to the top league in 2026-27.
Pot distribution for Nations League draw
League A
- Pot 1: Portugal, Spain, France, Germany
- Pot 2: Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia
- Pot 3: Serbia, Belgium, England, Norway
- Pot 4: Wales, Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey
League B
- Pot 1: Scotland, Hungary, Poland, Israel
- Pot 2: Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Ukraine
- Pot 3: Slovenia, Georgia, Republic of Ireland, Romania
- Pot 4: Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Kosovo
League C
- Pot 1: Iceland, Albania, Montenegro, Kazakhstan
- Pot 2: Finland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Armenia
- Pot 3: Belarus, Faroe Islands, Cyprus, Estonia
- Pot 4*: Latvia or Gibraltar, Luxembourg or Malta, Moldova, San Marino
League D
- Pot 1*: Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Gibraltar or Latvia, Malta or Luxembourg
- Pot 2: Liechtenstein, Andorra
The pots for Leagues C and D will be finalized following the 2024/25 UNL League C/D play-offs in March 2026 between Latvia/Gibraltar and Luxembourg/Malta.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.