Nations League 2026/27: there's the draw, the risks for the national team
At the moment, CT Gattuso is completely focused on the play-offs that are worth a World Cup pass. The Azzurri will take the field next March 26 in Bergamo to face Northern Ireland in the playoff semifinals: if successful, the national team would face the winner of the challenge between Wales and Bosnia on the 31st for a place in the World Cup scheduled for the summer. Still, there’s more to think about.
Today, in Brussels (6 p.m.), Italy will find out the name of its opponents in the group stage of the 2026/27 Nations League, which, ironically, begins in September, shortly after that World Cup that the Azzurri are still trying to win. The national team has been placed in the second tier, along with Croatia, the Netherlands and Denmark. That means it may also have to contend with a decidedly challenging group, with national teams of the highest level.
In the first bracket, for example, there are two battleships such as France and Spain, as well as Germany and Portugal. There is also no messing around in the third bracket with the black beast Norway, as well as England, Serbia and Belgium. Finally, in the fourth bracket, Turkey, Czech Republic, Greece and that Wales that Italy may have to face in the second round of the playoffs in March. In short, all very dangerous opponents for CT Gattuso.
Clearly, at this precise moment, the CT of the national team has no intention of thinking about the Nations League. There’s a World Cup to go for. This will not be the case for so many other national teams who can enjoy the draw with complete peace of mind, already having their World Cup pass in their pockets.
To date, there have been four editions of the Nations League played. Italy has won two third places (2020/21 and 2022/23). Portugal has won two, one success each for France and Spain. The last edition saw Portugal triumph, on penalties, over Spain.
