21 Sept 2026 | Sportsbetting
UEFA Nations League Matchday Predictions for 2026/27 – Matchdays 1 and 2
The Kickoff of the 2026/27 Nations League: Matchday Preview with Picks for Nine Games During the International Break. Including Coverage of the Top Matches.
approx. 3 min.
UEFA Nations League Matchday Predictions for 2026/27 – Matchdays 1 and 2
The first international break of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, following the World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, is just around the corner. For some, the wounds are still fresh: Germany was eliminated by Paraguay in a penalty shootout in the Round of 16, and Italy failed to qualify for the third consecutive time. As a result, five nations are entering the season with new head coaches: Jürgen Klopp in Germany, Zinédine Zidane in France, Xavi Hernández in the Netherlands, Mark van Bommel in Belgium, and Roberto Mancini in Italy. Only Spain is heading into the tournament with confidence, as Luis de la Fuente’s team is the reigning world champion. Matchday 1 kicks off on Thursday, followed by Matchday 2 from Sunday through Tuesday.
Merkur Quick Tips for the Start of the 2026/27 Nations League
Merkur Nations League Matchday Predictions: The Highlights of the International Break
Following the team’s elimination in a penalty shootout against Morocco in the World Cup round of 16, Ronald Koeman has announced his resignation. Xavi Hernández, a coach with a very different style of play, is now taking over. His first competitive match will be against a prominent opponent with whom the Netherlands shares a long and intense rivalry. After just a few days of training, it’s hard to say how quickly Xavi’s possession-oriented style of play will take root with the Oranje.
A new era is also beginning for the DFB team. After being eliminated by Paraguay, Julian Nagelsmann was forced to step down. Jürgen Klopp has officially served as head coach of the national team since July 24, 2026, having been the association’s publicly stated top choice ever since Nagelsmann’s departure. The away match in Amsterdam will thus be his very first competitive game and, at the same time, the start of a campaign in which the DFB will also be looking to rebuild trust among its own fans. Just how much of Klopp’s emotional, intense style of soccer can be implemented in such a short preparation period will only become clear during the game.
Prediction: Two teams with new coaches on the bench. Both are likely to still lack well-rehearsed plays. A cautious draw is therefore the most likely outcome.
England finished the World Cup with a sensational third-place finish, following a semifinal loss to Argentina and a 6-4 victory over France in the third-place match. Tuchel has extended his contract through 2028 and heads into the season at home with a great deal of confidence. The federation has largely kept the successful tournament roster intact, so the well-rehearsed plays from this past summer should still be fresh in the players’ minds. For Tuchel, this is also his first opportunity to prove himself against the new industry leader, since the two teams did not face each other at the World Cup.
Spain arrives as the reigning world champion after De la Fuente’s team defeated Portugal, Belgium, France, and, in the final, Argentina in consecutive knockout-round matches. There are hardly any personnel absences or major changes following this success. Spain’s winning formula from this past summer—patient possession and high-pressure defense after losing the ball—is well known and has yet to be truly cracked by any opponent. That is precisely what makes this match so compelling: England, with its physical presence and quick transitions, has—at least in theory—the right tools to counter it.
Prediction: This unofficial rematch of the World Cup medal match promises to be a top-notch soccer game. Spain’s current form and superior play will give them a narrow edge, but it won’t be a one-sided affair.
Two major soccer nations with new coaches will face off during this international break. France brought the Deschamps era to a close after 14 years, despite finishing fourth at the World Cup—a result sealed by a wild 4-6 loss to England in the third-place match. Prior to that, their run ended in the semifinals against Spain, who went on to win the World Cup. Zinédine Zidane heads into his second match as national team coach on the heels of the season opener against Turkey. For him, the match is an early barometer of how quickly his tactical ideas can take root in the team.
Under Rudi Garcia, Belgium fought its way to the World Cup quarterfinals, where its run came to an end against Spain. Garcia was let go afterward, and Mark van Bommel—also a first-time coach—is now taking over on the bench. The “golden generation” centered around De Bruyne is noticeably getting older, with no equal successor ready to take over the midfield, which further complicates the transition. Van Bommel must therefore not only find a new midfield core but also prove it against a prominent opponent in the group stage.
Prediction: Two teams in transition, two coaches in their second competitive match. This promises to be an open game—and by no means a well-rehearsed one. France’s individual talent on offense is likely to tip the scales in the end, but it won’t be a one-sided affair in Brussels.
