2026/27 UEFA Nations League: Games to look out for

Cross-border rivalries will be renewed and there will be a rematch of the UEFA EURO 2024 final in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League.

We check out some of the most eye-catching fixtures with Matchday 1 fast approaching.

Group A2: Netherlands vs Germany, 24/09

The first clutch of games on the first night of the competition includes this age-old classic, and it will mark two managerial debuts. Former Liverpool and Dortmund boss Jürgen Klopp will take charge of Germany for the first time following his appointment on 24 July, while the Netherlands are yet to decide on their new coach after the departure of Ronald Koeman.

Germany are unbeaten in the sides' last four encounters (W2 D2), and with trips to Serbia and Greece awaiting both sides in the section, a positive start will be a big target as a new era begins for two giant football nations.

Group A3: England vs Spain, 26/09

Matchday 1 serves up a second monster tie, with the sides that met in the final of UEFA EURO 2024 reconvening at Wembley. Luis de la Fuente's world champions were good value for that 2-1 success in Berlin, and (as runners-up last time out) Spain are once more targeting glory in the Nations League. "It's a competition where there are great expectations and hopes," De la Fuente told UEFA. "But it's very tough."

He may find out exactly how tough as his side take on Thomas Tuchel's England. Back in League A after winning promotion in the 2024/25 edition, the Three Lions have got what their coach was hoping for. "We wanted a competitive group," Tuchel told UEFA. "We want to play against the best and see where we are." In ten meetings since the turn of the millennium, England's record against Spain is W3 D1 L6. Can they redress that negative balance?

Group A1: Belgium vs France, 28/09

Group A 1 features Italy and Türkiye as well as neighbours Belgium and France, and promises thrills from start to finish. This will be another game with two new coaches in the hotseat, with former Dutch international Mark van Bommel taking over the reins at Belgium and France announcing the appointment of their legendary former midfielder Zinédine Zidane, who returns to management for the first time since leaving Real Madrid over five years ago.

France have won the most recent five meetings against their near neighbours, including 2-0 and 2-1 victories in the most recent edition of the Nations League. Belgium are without a competitive win against Les Bleus since a 2-0 triumph during qualifying for the 1982 World Cup, and would desperately love to change that here.

Group A1: Italy vs France, 12/11

If Zidane faces a tough task in taking on Belgium, this Matchday 5 away game against France's neighbours from the southeast will be no less testing. The sides were paired in the 2024/25 Nations League, the Azzurri prevailing 3-1 away before a 3-1 home loss at San Siro extended a bizarre run of results. Italy have not won a home game against their neighbours (D2 L4) since a 2-1 friendly success in May 1962. José Altafini (born 1938) was the last player to score an Azzurri home winner against France.

Italy also have a new yet familiar face in the dugout for this Nations League campaign: Roberto Mancini. Architect of Italy's UEFA EURO 2020 success, Mancini will hope to inspire further Azzurri elation in his second spell. Though he surely has loftier targets in mind, scratching a 64-year itch is a good place to start and Mancini inherits a squad undeterred despite that unwanted record against France. "We take [positives from] the performance and the fact that France respected us," said midfielder Nicolò Barella after the latest home defeat.

Worth looking out for

• With 19 goals, Erling Haaland is four clear at the top of the competition's all-time top scorer rankings. Promoted to League A in the last edition with Norway, he will look to keep scoring against Portugal, Denmark and Wales.
• Viktor Gyökeres was the top scorer in the 2024/25 edition of the Nations League as his Sweden side earned promotion from League C. Will the Arsenal man's goals help them make the step up to League A this time?
• The Faroe Islands will look to more than hold their own against Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Moldova in Group C3. Having avoided the drop in 2024/25, they took an impressive 12 points in the European Qualifiers for the World Cup.