Club football has paused, but the calendar is anything but quiet. The new UEFA Nations League campaign begins on September 24, and Matchday 1 already brings several fixtures that would not look out of place on a major international weekend. The opening markets are live on 888STARZ, ranging from a near pick’em between the Netherlands and Germany to one matchup where the outsider is priced in double figures.
Rather than cram all 26 Matchday 1 fixtures into one article, we have picked six games worth following from September 24 to 26.
888STARZ odds were recorded on September 23 and may move before kick-off.
England vs Spain: Wembley hosts another chapter
The biggest fixture of Matchday 1 arrives on September 26.
England host Spain at Wembley, two years after the Euro 2024 final in which Mikel Oyarzabal’s late goal gave La Roja a 2-1 win.
Spain’s status has only grown since then. Luis de la Fuente’s side enter the new Nations League cycle as reigning European and world champions.
For England, this is hardly a gentle return to League A either. Thomas Tuchel’s team earned promotion from League B and immediately get one of the toughest possible tests.
England have beaten Spain only three times in their ten meetings this century.
The odds underline just how close this one looks.
888STARZ:
England — 2.85 | Draw — 3.30 | Spain — 2.50
Spain are narrow favourites, but only just. At Wembley, this is about as open as a top-level international fixture gets.
Netherlands vs Germany: Xavi vs Klopp from day one
There is no warm-up for either side.
Xavi Hernandez takes charge of the Netherlands for the first time, while Jurgen Klopp begins his Germany tenure against one of the country’s biggest rivals.
Germany are unbeaten in their last four meetings with the Dutch: two wins and two draws.
Their previous Nations League campaign also went Germany’s way head-to-head, with a 2-2 draw in Amsterdam followed by a 1-0 German win in Munich.
Yet the market sees very little between them this time.
888STARZ:
Netherlands — 2.38 | Draw — 3.74 | Germany — 2.74
Home advantage gives the Netherlands a slight edge, but that is about it. For the first game under two new coaches, it is a perfect opening fixture.
Italy vs Belgium: two new coaches and unfinished business
Another matchup, another fresh start.
Roberto Mancini is back for a second spell with Italy, while Mark van Bommel takes charge of Belgium for the first time.
These two also met in the previous Nations League campaign. Belgium came back from 2-0 down in Italy to earn a 2-2 draw.
The Azzurri still have a strong core from the Euro 2020-winning side — Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nicolo Barella, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Alessandro Bastoni among them — but the next cycle is already being built around a different generation.
Italy are favoured at home, though not by much.
888STARZ:
Italy — 2.14 | Draw — 3.56 | Belgium — 3.26
This feels like exactly the kind of match where home advantage matters without making anything straightforward.
Three More Games Worth Watching
Turkey vs France: Zidane’s first night
France begin a new era under one of the biggest names in their history.
Zinedine Zidane’s first match as national-team coach comes away in Turkey.
The hosts have good memories of this fixture too: in Euro 2020 qualifying, Turkey beat France 2-0 at home.
The current market, however, is far less optimistic about their chances.
888STARZ:
Turkey — 6.30 | Draw — 4.54 | France — 1.48
France are one of the strongest favourites among the major Matchday 1 fixtures.
Hungary vs Ukraine: an important League B opener
Ukraine begin their Nations League campaign on September 25 with a difficult trip to Hungary.
The two teams have been drawn in Group B2 alongside Georgia and Northern Ireland. Ukraine remain in League B, while Hungary are looking to bounce straight back after relegation from League A.
The prices make this one particularly interesting.
888STARZ:
Hungary — 2.26 | Draw — 3.26 | Ukraine — 3.28
Hungary’s home advantage makes them favourites, but there is not much separating the two sides. For Ukraine, this is an early indication of whether a serious push for top spot in the group is realistic.
Portugal vs Wales: the champions begin their defence
Portugal start the new campaign as defending champions.
In 2025, they became the first nation to win the Nations League twice, and they now begin their title defence at home against Wales.
The Welsh are back in League A after winning their group in the second tier.
Cristiano Ronaldo also remains part of the squad, giving him another opportunity to extend his international appearance and scoring records.
The market, though, sees very little room for an upset.
888STARZ:
Portugal — 1.21 | Draw — 6.35 | Wales — 14.00
It is the biggest gap among the six matches in our shortlist.
Key UEFA Nations League Matchday 1 Fixtures
| Date | Match | Home | Draw | Away |
| Sep 24 | Netherlands — Germany | 2.38 | 3.74 | 2.74 |
| Sep 24 | Portugal — Wales | 1.21 | 6.35 | 14.00 |
| Sep 25 | Italy — Belgium | 2.14 | 3.56 | 3.26 |
| Sep 25 | Turkey — France | 6.30 | 4.54 | 1.48 |
| Sep 25 | Hungary — Ukraine | 2.26 | 3.26 | 3.28 |
| Sep 26 | England — Spain | 2.85 | 3.30 | 2.50 |
Matchday 1 already gives us more than enough to work with.
Klopp begins his Germany tenure against Xavi’s Netherlands. Mancini returns to Italy. Zidane starts with France. Ukraine open with a difficult trip to Budapest.
And the three-day block ends with England vs Spain — a rematch of the Euro 2024 final between two sides entering another international cycle with major expectations.
For an opening round, that is plenty.
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