UEFA Nations League: Haaland, Kane, Mbappé, Olise Headline Star-Studded Matchday 1

The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League gets underway on Thursday with a heavyweight opening round featuring a series of high-profile European clashes, as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise headline a weekend packed with international football.

The league phase begins on September 24 and Matchday 1 concludes on Saturday, September 26, with 24 fixtures scheduled across Leagues A, B, C and D.

Among the biggest attractions are Netherlands against Germany, Norway versus Denmark, Italy against Belgium, Türkiye against France and the much-anticipated meeting between England and Spain.

Thursday: Haaland, Germany and Portugal Begin Campaigns

Thursday’s programme opens with eight fixtures, led by four League A encounters.

Norway welcome Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion, with Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard expected to provide much of the attacking threat for the hosts. Haaland arrives as one of Europe’s most prolific international forwards, while Ødegaard remains central to Norway’s creative play.

The Netherlands host Germany in Amsterdam in another headline encounter. The fixture also marks the competitive beginnings of Xavi Hernández as Netherlands head coach and Jürgen Klopp in charge of Germany.

Portugal, the reigning Nations League champions, begin their title defence at home against Wales, while Serbia entertain Greece in the other League A fixture. UEFA lists all four matches for 20:45 CET.

The League B programme also features Austria against Israel and Kosovo against the Republic of Ireland, while Andorra face Malta and Liechtenstein meet Lithuania in League D.

Thursday, September 24

• Netherlands vs Germany — 20:45 CET
• Serbia vs Greece — 20:45 CET
• Norway vs Denmark — 20:45 CET
• Portugal vs Wales — 20:45 CET
• Austria vs Israel — 20:45 CET
• Kosovo vs Republic of Ireland — 20:45 CET
• Andorra vs Malta — 18:00 CET
• Liechtenstein vs Lithuania — 20:45 CET

Friday: Mbappé and Olise Lead France Against Türkiye

Friday brings another pair of League A blockbusters, with Italy facing Belgium before France travel to Türkiye.

The France fixture carries particular intrigue as Zinedine Zidane begins his tenure as Les Bleus coach in competitive football. His squad includes Mbappé and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, with the pair among the attacking talents available to France.

Mbappé’s availability will nevertheless be closely watched after the Real Madrid forward missed a France training session earlier this week because of flu-like symptoms.

Olise also enters the campaign as an important creative option for France. UEFA’s squad information lists him alongside Mbappé among Zidane’s forwards, while his recent club form has continued to attract attention.

Italy’s meeting with Belgium completes the League A programme for Friday, while Georgia face Northern Ireland, Hungary meet Ukraine, Poland take on Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sweden host Romania in League B.

Friday, September 25

• Georgia vs Northern Ireland — 18:00 CET
• Armenia vs Latvia — 18:00 CET
• Italy vs Belgium — 20:45 CET
• Türkiye vs France — 20:45 CET
• Hungary vs Ukraine — 20:45 CET
• Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 20:45 CET
• Sweden vs Romania — 20:45 CET
• Montenegro vs Cyprus — 20:45 CET

Saturday: Kane and Spain Renew European Rivalry

Saturday delivers the standout fixture of Matchday 1 when England host Spain at Wembley.

Harry Kane will spearhead England’s attack against the reigning European champions, with Spain bringing a squad built around a new generation of technically gifted players.

UEFA has identified England versus Spain as one of the marquee fixtures of the opening round, with the meeting also renewing memories of the UEFA EURO 2024 final.

England’s Group A3 campaign begins against Spain before subsequent meetings with Czechia and Croatia. Spain’s opening schedule follows the same path in reverse, making Saturday’s Wembley clash an early test for both sides.

The other League A fixture sees Czechia host Croatia, while League B and C provide eight additional matches.

Saturday, September 26

• Slovenia vs Scotland — 15:00 CET
• San Marino vs Finland — 18:00 CET
• Faroe Islands vs Kazakhstan — 18:00 CET
• Bulgaria vs Luxembourg — 18:00 CET
• Iceland vs Estonia — 18:00 CET
• Czechia vs Croatia — 20:45 CET
• England vs Spain — 20:45 CET
• North Macedonia vs Switzerland — 20:45 CET
• Albania vs Belarus — 20:45 CET
• Slovakia vs Moldova — 20:45 CET

Sunday: Matchday 2 Begins

Although the Matchday 1 programme concludes on Saturday, the Nations League action continues on Sunday with the opening fixtures of Matchday 2.

Among the early second-round highlights are Norway against Portugal, Germany versus Greece and Serbia’s trip to the Netherlands. Denmark will also host Wales.

With Haaland, Kane, Mbappé and Olise among the headline names, and blockbuster meetings involving Germany, Spain, France, Italy, England, Portugal and the Netherlands, the opening round offers an immediate test for Europe’s leading nations.

The 2026/27 Nations League league phase will run through November, with League A quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs scheduled for March 2027 before the final tournament in June.