The Nations League returns from 12 to 17 November 2026 for the final two league-phase rounds, with England–Croatia, Italy–France and Spain–England among the fixtures on the calendar. For supporters, the attraction is more than a collection of famous names: these are the last group matches before the competition moves towards its 2027 knockout stage.
Key takeaways
- The November programme covers matchdays five and six.
- England play Croatia before travelling to face Spain.
- The top two in each League A group advance to quarter-finals.
- UEFA lists fixture times in CET; check your own local time.
The November dates to save
UEFA’s fixture list places matchday five on 12–14 November and matchday six on 15–17 November. The table below is a selection, with the home side listed first. It is useful for choosing a match to follow, rather than a complete tournament programme.
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| 12 November | Italy–France; England–Croatia |
| 14 November | Portugal–Denmark |
| 15 November | Spain–England |
| 16 November | Germany–Netherlands |
| 17 November | Wales–Portugal |
UEFA’s list uses 20:45 CET unless another time is shown. A calendar reminder should include the timezone as well as the date. If you follow several countries, save each fixture separately: a matchday spans multiple evenings, so the opening night does not represent every team’s programme.
England’s two games offer a useful comparison
England–Croatia and Spain–England make an appealing pair for anyone who wants to follow one national team through the window. The opponents are different, as are the home-and-away settings. That gives the viewer a better test of a team’s approach than one isolated performance.
My viewing question would be simple: can England progress through midfield without leaving too much space behind the ball? Watch the positions of the supporting players before a pass is lost. A recovery run on the highlight reel can start with an avoidable gap several seconds earlier. That is a question to investigate, not a prediction of the starting line-up.
Italy–France and the wider European programme
Italy–France’s official match page is a useful starting point for team news closer to kick-off. A scheduled meeting does not confirm which players will be selected or fit. Squad announcements and the final match sheet should settle those questions; a familiar name in a preview is not a team-sheet guarantee.
Portugal’s meetings with Denmark and Wales, and Germany’s match against the Netherlands, provide other routes into the final round. Choose a game because of the football question it raises: how a defence handles width, whether a midfield can resist pressure, or how a side protects a lead. There is no need to turn every pairing into a forecast.
What the table actually decides
UEFA’s competition explainer confirms that League A group winners and runners-up reach the quarter-finals. Those ties are scheduled in the 25–30 March 2027 window. November therefore finishes the league phase; it does not crown the overall champion. Keep the group race and the later knockout competition separate when reading a result.
Promotion and relegation deserve their own check. UEFA’s current explainer includes revised arrangements linked to a three-league structure for 2028/29. Applying a remembered rule from an older edition can give the wrong answer about a third- or fourth-placed team. Use the published rule for the relevant league before describing a side as promoted, relegated or safe.
On match night, start with the official group table, then follow the game, then return to the table after full time. That small routine helps separate a live position from a settled result. KoooraScores’ live match page and results page are convenient companions; UEFA remains the reference for this competition’s standings and regulations.
Nations League November questions
When does the league phase finish?
The published programme ends on 17 November 2026. Check the individual fixture for any later adjustment.
Are the November matches quarter-finals?
No. They are the final league-phase rounds; the quarter-finals follow in March 2027.
Can I use the archive photograph to identify a venue?
No. The Wembley photograph accompanies the guide; it does not establish the venue of any listed fixture. Use the official match information.
Photo credit and official sources
Photo: Kallerna / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, resized and converted to WebP. This photograph and its prepared WebP versions are available under the linked license.