{"id":259,"date":"2026-10-04T23:25:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T23:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vantstep.com\/?p=259"},"modified":"2026-11-04T13:30:40","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T13:30:40","slug":"ligue-nations-2026-2027-calendrier-france-format","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vantstep.com\/en\/ligue-nations-2026-2027-calendrier-france-format\/","title":{"rendered":"Nations League 2026-27: schedule, France\u2019s group and format"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026-27 Nations League is played in two stages: a group phase in autumn 2026, then quarter-finals and a finals tournament in 2027.<\/strong> France are in Group A1 with Italy, Belgium and Turkey. Here are the dates and rules to know to understand what is at stake in each match.<\/p>\n

Information checked on 4 October 2026. Illustrative photo of a football stadium.<\/em><\/p>\n

France\u2019s next matches:<\/strong> Italy vs France, Thursday 12 November at 20:45 on TF1<\/a> and France vs Turkey, Sunday 15 November at 20:45 on TF1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is the 2026-27 Nations League schedule?<\/h2>\n

The first four matchdays are grouped in a long international window between 24 September and 6 October 2026. The last two group matchdays are played in November. This makes the start of the competition particularly busy: it is better to check each match listing rather than remember a single date for a whole matchday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stage<\/th>\nScheduled dates<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Matchday 1<\/td>\n24 to 26 September 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matchday 2<\/td>\n27 to 29 September 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matchday 3<\/td>\n30 September to 3 October 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matchday 4<\/td>\n4 to 6 October 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matchday 5<\/td>\n12 to 14 November 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matchday 6<\/td>\n15 to 17 November 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quarter-finals<\/td>\n25 to 30 March 2027<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Finals<\/td>\n9 to 13 June 2027<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

These windows appear in the official UEFA guide<\/a>. For the exact fixture, kick-off time and results, see the updated group-stage schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How can France reach the quarter-finals?<\/h2>\n

In League A, the top two in each of the four groups reach the quarter-finals. For Les Bleus, the aim is therefore to finish in one of the top two places in Group A1. A single win is not enough to secure qualification: you need to look at the full table and the remaining matches.<\/p>\n

The rules for the knockout stage<\/a> provide for a draw between a group winner and a runner-up from another group. The quarter-finals are played home and away. Runners-up play the first leg at home; the aggregate score over the two matches decides who goes through, with the regulatory provisions applying in case of a tie.<\/p>\n

What is the difference between the quarter-finals and the finals?<\/h2>\n

The four quarter-final winners join the finals tournament. The semi-finals, the third-place match and the final are each played as a single match. So there are three stages to note in your diary: the end of the groups in November, the two-legged ties in March and the tournament in June.<\/p>\n

How to prepare for a match night without mistakes?<\/h2>\n