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Croatia drawn with England and Spain in 2026/27 UEFA Nations League

(Screenshot/UEFA TV)

The draw for the fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League was held in Brussels today, with Croatia placed in a challenging group.

Following the conclusion of the World Cup, Croatia will gather again to compete once again among Europe’s elite nations.

Thanks to consistent performances in previous editions, most notably the silver medal secured in 2023, Croatia entered the draw as a second seed among the four League A pots.

Croatia was drawn today in Group A3 alongside Spain, England and Czechia.

The fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League introduces notable changes to both the calendar and the knockout system.

The entire group stage, consisting of six matches, will now be played across just two international windows.

• 24 September – 6 October 2026: Four matches per team in a highly condensed schedule.

• 12 – 17 November 2026: The remaining two group fixtures.

This tighter format will require careful squad management, particularly given the physical demands of four matches within a short timeframe.

Knockout Stage Revamp

UEFA has also altered the progression system in League A.

Previously, only group winners advanced to the Finals. Under the new format:

• The top two teams from each League A group will qualify for the quarter-finals, to be played in March 2027.

• Quarter-final winners will progress to the Final Four tournament in June 2027, where the title will be decided.

• The fourth-placed teams in each group will be relegated to League B.

• The third-placed teams will face a relegation play-off against runners-up from League B to retain their elite status.

The changes increase the margin for error at the top while intensifying the battle to avoid relegation.

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