England’s Nations League draw in full with nightmare group as Ireland get Israel | Football | Sport
The Nations League draw took place on Thursday (Image: Getty)
England have been handed a brutal Nations League draw, which will see Thomas Tuchel’s side face Spain in a repeat of the European Championship final. The Three Lions are back in the top tier of the Nations League, having earned promotion under interim Lee Carsley back in 2024.
As well as Luis de la Fuente’s side, England have been paired up against Croatia, who they’ll also take on at this summer’s World Cup. Whereas Czechia, who are the lowest-ranked team in the group, make up their third and final opponent.
Elsewhere in the Nations League draw, Wales, who are also in the top tier, won’t be too disheartened by their hopes of success. Craig Bellamy’s men will take on the holders, Portugal, before matches against Denmark and Norway.
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Scotland were allocated to a group with Switzerland, Slovenia and North Macedonia. Steve Clarke’s side had been competing in Group A during the previous campaign, but were relegated to the second tier after finishing third in a group with Croatia, Poland and eventual champions Portugal.
Northern Ireland have been handed somewhat of a nightmare draw, given their Group B opponents are made up of Hungary, Ukraine and Georgia. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland have been drawn against Israel, alongside Kosovo and Austria.
2026/27 UEFA Nations League draw in full
1 – France, Italy, Belgium, Turkiye
2 – Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece,
3 – Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia
4 – Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales
1 – Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia
2 – Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland
3 – Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kosovo
4 – Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden
1 – Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino
2 – Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia OR Gibraltar
3 – Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova
4 – Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg OR Malta
1 – Latvia OR Gibraltar, Luxembourg OR Malta, Andorra
2 – Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechenstein
It came on the same day Thomas Tuchel signed a contract extension until the end of the Euros (Image: Getty)
It comes on the same day Tuchel penned a new deal with England, meaning his contract will now expire following the 2028 Euros, which are set to be held in the UK and Ireland. Tuchel had originally signed a short-term deal when he was appointed in October 2024, which was due to run until after the 2026 World Cup.
On the new contract, the former Chelsea boss said: “I am very happy and proud to extend my time with England. It is no secret to anyone that I have loved every minute so far of working with my players and coaches, and I cannot wait to lead them to the World Cup.
“It is an incredible opportunity and we are going to do our very best to make the country proud. I have had so much support from Mark [Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive], all my colleagues at the FA and from fans wherever I go that I did not hesitate when asked to continue in this dream job. Euro 2028 will be a very special tournament.”
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