OFFICIAL: England drawn in the same group as Spain, Ronaldo faces Haaland

The UEFA Nations League 2026/27 draw has set up thrilling groups, featuring a notable clash among Spain, England, and Croatia, as Portugal embarks on its campaign to retain the championship.

Group stage draw UEFA Nations League 2026/27 was officially held in Brussels on Thursday, February 12, 2026, determining the group compositions across the four leagues of the tournament’s fifth edition.

According to the draw results, Spain landed in the tightly contested Group A3, facing Croatia, England, and the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Defending champions Portugalwere placed in Group A4 alongside Denmark, Norway, and Wales, promising physically intense and fast-paced matches.

In League A, all groups feature Europe’s top teams. Group A1 showcases a battle among France, Italy, Belgium, and Turkey, while Group A2 pits Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Greece against each other.

Leagues B and C continue to offer balanced competition for mid-tier national teams, whereas League D gathers lower-ranked squads, with some spots yet to be decided after the League C/D playoffs in March 2025.

Regarding the schedule, group stage matches will take place from September 24 to October 6, 2026 (first four matchdays) and November 12–17, 2026 (final two matchdays). The knockout phase, including quarterfinals for Leagues A and B and promotion/relegation playoffs between Leagues A/B and B/C, will occur from March 25–30, 2027. The Nations League finals are expected to be held around June 9–13, 2027.

Under the format, each team plays home and away round-robin matches within their group. The top two teams from each League A group advance to the quarterfinals. Bottom teams in Leagues A and B face direct relegation, while group winners from Leagues B, C, and two from League D earn promotion. Additionally, promotion and relegation playoffs remain crucial in determining movement between leagues.