League A Preview: All 16 Teams, Group by Group

The only nation other than Portugal to have won this trophy, and they arrive after a deep World Cup run that ended in fourth place. France have never been relegated from League A and their all-time record in the league phase is among the best in the competition. On paper, the group favourite — but they open away in Türkiye and host Italy in round three.

Italy have finished third in the Nations League finals twice, in 2021 and 2023, which tells you exactly what kind of team they are in this format: hard to beat, hard to break down, and reliably in the argument. What they have lacked is a knockout goal when it matters. Group A1 will test that immediately.

Belgium's golden generation reached the 2021 finals and lost the third-place match to Italy. The rebuild has been quieter than the hype that preceded it, but they are still a side that can take four points off anyone in this group. Their opening match against Italy sets the tone.

The promoted side, and the one nobody wanted to draw. Türkiye won their League B group to get here and have been one of Europe's fastest-rising teams, with a home crowd that turns group games into events. They get France and Belgium at home inside the first two rounds.

Germany hosted the 2025 final tournament and lost their semi-final to Portugal, then the third-place match to France. Four games, no medal. They have been consistently competitive in this competition without ever winning it, and they start at home against the team most likely to stop them.

The Dutch have reached two Nations League finals weekends and left with nothing but regret. They were beaten by Portugal in the inaugural final and by Croatia in 2023. That record — consistently good, never quite enough — makes them the most interesting team in the draw.

Serbia won promotion into League A and have stayed there, which in this competition is an achievement in itself. They are physical, direct and genuinely awkward away from home. Nobody enjoys a trip to Belgrade in October.

Greece won their League B group to come back up, and they are the type of promoted side that causes damage: organised, defensively stubborn, and happy to make a group ugly. Their home games against Germany and the Netherlands decide whether this group stays a two-horse race.

Spain have contested three of the four Nations League finals and won one. Now they have the World Cup as well. They are not just the group favourite; on current form they are the team everyone else in the competition is measuring themselves against. They have not lost a competitive group game in this format since 2022.

The bounce-back story. England were relegated from League A in 2023, rebuilt in League B, won their group and returned with the strongest squad they have had in years. Their reward is this group, starting at home against Spain. The 2023 final between the two went to penalties.

Croatia lost the 2023 final on penalties after 120 goalless minutes. They are the side in this group nobody relishes playing: no obvious weakness, no obvious ego, and a habit of turning tight group games into results. They play England home and away.

Czechia went down in 2023 and came straight back up, which is harder than it sounds. They now share a group with the world champions and two regular finalists. Realistically they are playing for the play-off spot — but they only need one big result at home to make the group awkward for everybody.

Two titles from four editions, and the only nation that can say that. Portugal also top the all-time League A table. They went unbeaten in their 2024/25 group, then came from behind to beat Denmark in the quarter-finals en route to the trophy. Opening against Wales should be a formality — nothing in this league is.

Denmark won the first leg of their 2025 quarter-final against Portugal, then lost the second 5-3 on aggregate. That tie is the reason this group is interesting: they have already shown they can beat these opponents over 90 minutes. They open away in Norway.

Norway have been the great underachievers of European football for a generation, and the Nations League has been where that finally changed. They won promotion with a strong League B campaign and they bring the competition's all-time leading scorer with them — nobody has more Nations League goals. Their first ever League A match is a home derby against Denmark.

Wales were relegated from League A in 2023 and won promotion back, which earns them a group with the champions. Their home fixtures are the ones that matter: Norway and Denmark both have to come to Cardiff, and both will find it uncomfortable.