The UEFA Nations League 2026-27 season starts on Thursday with 54 teams participating in the league phase. Portugal, the two-time champions, aim to defend their title from 2025. However, they face strong competition from reigning World Cup winners Spain, former champions France, and powerhouse England.

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Established in 2018, the UEFA Nations League was designed to replace uncompetitive friendlies with more meaningful matches among similarly ranked nations. The league consists of four divisions, each with promotion and relegation.

The 54 teams are organized into leagues and groups based on a draw held in Brussels in February:

**League A**

Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkiye

Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece

Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia

Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales

**League B**

Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia

Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland

Group B3: Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kosovo

Group B4: Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden

**League C**

Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino

Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia

Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova

Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg

**League D**

Group D1: Gibraltar, Malta, Andorra

Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

The schedule for the league phase includes matches from September 24-26 to November 15-17, 2026. The quarterfinals for Leagues A and B, along with promotion and relegation playoffs, will take place in March 2027, while the final tournament is set for June 9-13, 2027.

In League A, the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, while teams finishing last in their groups risk relegation. Each division has its own promotion and relegation dynamics.

UEFA has indicated that the results from the 2026-27 Nations League will play a role in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2028 in the UK and Ireland, providing teams another chance to secure a playoff spot.

Cristiano Ronaldo will participate, having been called up to the squad for Portugal's upcoming fixtures. He is entering what could be his final playing year, having previously expressed thoughts about retirement. Despite his club success, he has not won a FIFA World Cup, and Portugal was eliminated in the last tournament's Round of 16.

Ronaldo has led Portugal to UEFA Nations League victories in both 2019 and 2025. The tournament will feature other prominent players like Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Rodri, England captain Harry Kane, Norway's Erling Haaland, and Croatia's Luka Modric.

However, injuries have affected some rosters, including England's Cole Palmer and Declan Rice, and Spain's Pedro Porro.

The UEFA Nations League is held every two years. Past finals include:

- 2019: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands (Porto)

- 2021: France 2-1 Spain (Milan)

- 2023: Croatia 0-0 Spain (aet, Spain win 5-4 on pens, Rotterdam)

- 2025: Portugal 2-2 Spain (aet, Portugal win 5-3 on pens, Munich)