Nations League returns with Portugal hosting Wales and Klopp's Germany trip to Holland
The Nations League is back on Thursday 24 September 2026. Holders Portugal host Wales and the Netherlands host Germany in the opening night of the new season.
Both games kick off at 7.45pm BST. UEFA has billed Netherlands against Germany, along with England against Spain, as the marquee ties of Matchday 1 UEFA.
The format is simple. European national teams are split into leagues and groups. They play each other home and away in the league phase, with promotion, relegation and a finals tournament to follow. This season’s league phase runs in a prolonged international window from 24 September to 6 October.
Portugal begin at home as defending champions Yahoo Sports. It is Group A4. Norway against Denmark is the group’s other tie on Thursday night.
Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the defence. He has vowed to continue playing for Portugal ahead of the Wales game The Guardian. Jorge Jesus is the man in charge on the touchline.
Portugal named Diogo Costa in goal, with Joao Cancelo, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes in defence. Ruben Neves sits in midfield, with Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Pedro Neto ahead of him, and Ronaldo paired with Joao Felix up front in a 4-1-3-2.
Wales go with Danny Ward in goal. Neco Williams, Ben Cabango, Ben Davies and Jay Dasilva form the back four. Jordan James, Josh Sheehan and Ethan Ampadu start in midfield, with Lewis Koumas, Brennan Johnson and David Brooks in attack. Manager Craig Bellamy said Wales must enjoy facing “heavyweight” opposition in Portugal The Guardian.
In Group A2, the Netherlands against Germany is the heavyweight contest. Serbia against Greece is the group’s other fixture.
This one has fresh faces in the dugouts. Jürgen Klopp leads Germany for the first time against the Netherlands. Xavi Hernández leads the hosts. Both men took over after disappointing World Cups.
Klopp has refused to promise trophies straight away. He said signs of progress should be visible against the Netherlands Reuters. Expect noise. Expect pace.
The Netherlands named Bart Verbruggen in goal, behind Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven. Ryan Gravenberch, Quinten Timber and Tijjani Reijnders start in midfield, with Crysencio Summerville, Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo in a front three.
Germany reply with Marc-André ter Stegen in goal. Felix Treu, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah and Nathaniel Brown defend. Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala and Felix Nmecha play in midfield, with Karim Adeyemi, Kai Havertz and Kevin Schade up front.
Elsewhere, Norway host Denmark in Group A4. Norway start with Ørjan Nyland in goal, Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjørn Heggem and Fredrik Aursnes at the back, and Martin Ødegaard, Sander Berge and Patrick Berg in midfield. Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland and Antonio Nusa lead the line.
Serbia against Greece completes the late kick-offs. Greece line up in a 4-4-2, with Konstantinos Tzolakis in goal and Vangelis Pavlidis and Charalampos Kostoulas up front. Serbia match them shape for shape, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in goal and Dusan Tadic and Luka Jovic paired in attack. Andorra against Malta in League D1 starts earlier at 18:00.
For fans, this means a proper first look. New managers, a great veteran still going, and a long autumn of group football to come. Four games start together on Thursday night. Pick one and settle in.
