The draw for the upcoming UEFA Nations League has placed England in a challenging Group A3 alongside Spain, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. This announcement coincided with the news that England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, has extended his contract, which will cover both the Nations League and the 2028 European Championship to be held on home soil.
In a dramatic twist, England’s recent history includes a heart-wrenching defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024, a match that marked the end of Gareth Southgate‘s tenure as head coach. Tuchel will now lead the team as they aim to improve upon their previous performance and contend for the Nations League title.
Group Matchups and Schedule
In addition to England’s fixtures, the draw also revealed the groupings for the other Home Nations. Wales has been placed in Group A4, facing off against defending champions Portugal, along with Denmark and Norway. Meanwhile, Scotland, under head coach Steve Clarke, will compete in Group B1 against fellow World Cup 2026 qualifiers Switzerland, as well as Slovenia and North Macedonia.
In Group B3, the Republic of Ireland will take on Israel, Austria, and Kosovo. Northern Ireland faces a tough challenge in Group B2, where they will meet Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia.
The Nations League matches are scheduled to take place in the autumn, with a total of four fixtures set to be played between late September and early October. The final two matches will occur in November. The competition will culminate in the quarter-finals and promotion-relegation play-offs in March 2027, leading to the Nations League finals in June of that year.
As teams gear up for these crucial matches, fans will be watching closely to see how the new coaching strategies and player line-ups will impact performance on the international stage.
