After a highly entertaining World Cup, the Nations League returns, and it’s pretty much non-stop action in it for the next two weeks or so, starting on Thursday. Here’s the lowdown on previous editions, how it all works and the latest odds on the winner market.
The league phase runs from 24 September to 17 November 2026, with the Nations League quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs taking place in March 2027. The finals are scheduled for 9–13 June 2027.
Best Bet: Back Spain to Win the Nations League
It’s not often we tip up favourites here in this column, but then again, Spain are 4.0 favourites, not 1.5 chances.
2026 World Cup winners, Euro 2024 winners, one-time Nations League winners and the only team to have made three finals in this competition. Add to that a highly respected manager, a deep squad of world-class players, a beautifully organised defence that keeps plenty of clean sheets, and you can see why they tick every box.
Yes, they have England in their group, and that won’t be easy, but they should still be too good for Tomas Tuchel’s side, while Croatia and Czechia are unlikely to cause them too many problems. All in all, they’re favourites for good reason but still at a good price.
Nations League Favourites
World and European champions Spain lead the betting at odds of 4.0, no surprise there. They’ve made the final in the second and fourth editions of this competition and won it in 2022-3 so they have good form in this competition. They’re in group A3, alongside England (5.5), also one of the favourites, Croatia and Czechia.
France are at a good price at 4.5 after a good showing at the World Cup, and won the second edition by beating Spain in the Final, so they’re no strangers to success in this competition.
They’re joined in Group A1 by a struggling Italy (34.0), Belgium (20.0) and Turkey.
Germany had a poor World Cup but are still among the fancied teams to win it, now under Jurgen Klopp, and are joined by the Netherlands (13.0), Serbia and Greece.
In Group A4, two-time winners Portugal are deserving of respect at 9.0, but they’re in the same Group as an Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard-inspired Norway (17.0), so they’ll have their work cut out for them, with Denmark and Wales completing the Group.
All of Spain (2.25), France (2.5) and Germany (2.75) are at odds of under 3.0 to make the Final.
Upcoming Matches this Week
Starting on Thursday, September 24, there is no shortage of big Nations League matches to look forward to for the next two and a half weeks.
Thursday’s highlights include old rivals the Netherlands and Germany clashing in Group A2, with the Dutch at 2.25, Germany at 2.75, and the draw at 3.8, while Portugal start life under new coach Jorge Jesus as 1.2 favourites to beat Wales.
That same day, old foes meet again as Norway host Denmark as 1.73 favourites, with the Danes at 4.5 and the draw at 3.8; both teams to score is 1.67.
Fast forward to Saturday and we’ve got England v Spain, a repeat of the 2024 European final, which Spain won 2-1. Spain have looked a cut above everyone else in Europe for the last three years or so, so it’s a surprise they’re only marginal favourites to win at 2.5, with England at 2.6 and the draw at 3.6, though admittedly the match is in England and they rarely lose matches at home, even against the very best.
Keep an eye on this page over the next few days for betting previews ahead of the biggest games in the Nations League, complete with stats, analysis, fun facts and, of course, some great betting tips.
Fun Fact
So who’s the top scorer across the four editions of the Nations League? That man, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won it twice and holds most international scoring records? Kylian Mbappe, the goal machine leading the line for a France side that is always there or thereabouts?
No, the answer is Manchester City and Norway star Erling Haaland, who has 19 goals to Ronaldo’s 15 and Mbappe’s nine. Haaland and Ronaldo will face each other in Group A4 on September 27.
