Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League features several major fixtures. Netherlands vs Germany and England vs Spain headline the opening round.
The group stage runs from September 24, 2026, to November 17, 2026. The Finals will take place from June 9 to June 13, 2027.
Portugal enter the tournament as the competition’s most successful team. They have won two Nations League titles, including the 2025 edition.
A total of 54 teams will compete in the 2026-27 tournament.
England sit in Group A3 with Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia. The Three Lions will face each opponent twice during the league phase.
England play Spain on September 26. They then face the Czech Republic on September 29 and Croatia on October 3.
Thomas Tuchel’s side will meet the Czech Republic again on October 6. England then face Croatia on November 12 before playing Spain on November 15.
Here, Sport Just Sport writer Anurag Tyagi examines the main betting markets from Matchday 1. He also provides suggested predictions for the biggest fixtures.
Netherlands vs Germany, Thursday, September 24 at 19:45 (BST)
Jürgen Klopp begins his Germany tenure against the Netherlands. The former Liverpool manager now faces the challenge of rebuilding the four-time world champions.
Germany have struggled since winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They also endured another disappointing tournament in their latest World Cup campaign.
Klopp will hope to bring greater consistency to a talented Germany squad. His first major decision involved naming two squads of 24 and 20 players.
The Netherlands also enter a new era. Xavi Hernández has replaced Ronald Koeman after the Dutch side’s disappointing World Cup campaign.
Netherlands vs Germany team news
Germany have no major injury concerns ahead of the match. Klopp has selected two strong squads for the opening Nations League fixtures.
Marc-André ter Stegen should start in goal. Klopp has also confirmed Joshua Kimmich will play in central midfield.
Jamal Musiala could operate in an attacking midfield role. Germany will therefore have plenty of attacking quality available.
The Netherlands face several injury problems.
Frenkie de Jong, Mats Wieffer, Ian Maatsen, Matthijs de Ligt, Jerdy Schouten and Xavi Simons are all unavailable.
Donyell Malen and Justin Kluivert have also joined the injury list. Mexx Meerdink and Guus Til have replaced them in the squad.
Team news
Germany have no major injury concerns ahead of the game, with Klopp opting to name two strong squads.
Former Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is set to begin the Klopp era as the No.1.
Klopp has also confirmed that Joshua Kimmich will start in central midfield, while Jamal Musiala is expected to feature in an attacking midfield role.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, will be without several high-profile players.
Frenkie de Jong, Mats Wieffer, Ian Maatsen, Matthijs de Ligt, Jerdy Schouten and Xavi Simons are all sidelined with injuries.
Donyell Malen and Justin Kluivert are the latest additions to the injury list and have been replaced in the squad by Mexx Meerdink and Guus Til.
Head-to-head
In 48 head-to-head meetings, Germany hold the upper hand with 18 wins, while the Netherlands have won 12 times. The remaining 18 games ended in draws.
Germany will also take heart from their recent record against the Dutch, having remained unbeaten in their last four meetings since March 2022, winning twice and drawing twice.
The last meeting between the two sides came in October 2024, when Germany secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of a goal from Jamie Leweling.
Match odds
The Netherlands are priced at 7/5 to win, while a draw is available at 14/5. Germany are 9/5 to claim the maximum points.
Suggested bet
Both teams to score, with 1-1 being the most likely outcome here.
England vs Spain, Saturday, September 26 at 19:45 (BST)
England return to Wembley for a high-octane UEFA Nations League clash against world champions Spain.
It will be Thomas Tuchel’s first competitive game in charge following England’s third-place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Luis de la Fuente’s Spain come into the game as both world and European champions after adding the World Cup to their Euro 2024 triumph earlier this summer.
They beat England in the Euro 2024 final and will now face them again at Wembley. The fixture gives both teams an early opportunity to take control of a group that also features the Czech Republic and Croatia.
Team news
Declan Rice and Cole Palmer have both withdrawn from the England squad for the Nations League due to workload management, while Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento have also pulled out with minor fitness concerns.
Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner have been called up as replacements.
For Spain, Pedro Porro has withdrawn after initially being named in the squad. The World Cup-winning right-back suffered a muscle injury during Tottenham Hotspur’s match against Aston Villa.
Manager Luis de la Fuente has called up Sporting CP’s Iván Fresneda from the Under-21s to replace Porro at right-back.
Real Madrid centre-back Dean Huijsen has also earned a recall after missing out on the World Cup squad, while Fermín López also returns to the Spain setup.
Head-to-head
Spain hold the better head-to-head record, winning 14 of the 28 meetings between the two sides across all competitions, including international friendlies.
La Roja also won the most recent encounter, beating England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final.
Match odds
England are 2/1 to come out on top, with the draw priced at 5/2 and Spain available at 19/12 to take the win.
Suggested bet
England to get on the scoresheet but Spain to edge the contest 2-1.
Italy vs Belgium, Friday, September 25 at 19:45 (BST)
Two European giants will get their UEFA Nations League campaigns underway as Italy host Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Friday.
Both teams are entering a new era, with Roberto Mancini back in charge of Italy and Mark van Bommel appointed as Belgium manager following the World Cup.
Italy remarkably missed out on a third straight World Cup. For a team of their calibre and prestige, that remains difficult to digest.
The four-time world champions have now missed three consecutive editions, meaning an entire generation of players has been denied the chance to compete on football’s biggest stage.
Although Mancini has enjoyed success wherever he has managed, the pressure will still be immense on the former Manchester City boss to get the best out of the squad.
For Belgium, it was largely a successful trip to North America. Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals, it was their only loss at the 2026 World Cup.
Rudi Garcia left the Belgium hot seat after his contract expired on July 31, 2026, paving the way for the appointment of Van Bommel.
The Dutchman has enjoyed a successful managerial spell in Belgium, leading Royal Antwerp to their first league title in 66 years.
This is the main reason why the former Bayern Munich defensive midfielder got the Belgium job.
Team news
Federico Dimarco was forced to withdraw from Roberto Mancini’s initial squad due to a fitness concern, while Roma defensive midfielder Bryan Cristante has also pulled out with a muscle injury.
For Belgium, veterans Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne have both been included in Van Bommel’s first squad.
Head-to-head
Italy may be going through a historically poor run of results, but they have enjoyed the better of their recent meetings with Belgium.
The Azzurri have remained unbeaten against the Red Devils since 2015, winning four of their five encounters during that period, including victories at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
Match odds
Italy are priced at 6/5 for the win, while the draw is available at 13/5. Belgium are 12/5 to take all three points.
Suggested bet
Both teams to score, but Italy are expected to maintain their strong recent record against Belgium. The Azzurri should edge a closely fought contest 2-1.
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