Nations League draw: Spain, England and Croatia in same group

The full draw League A Group A1 France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey Group A2 Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece Group A3 Spain, Croatia, England, Czech Republic Group A4 Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales League B Group B1 Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia

European champion Spain was drawn in the same group as England and Croatia for the next edition of the Nations League. The Czech Republic completes what looks like the most testing of the four top-tier League A groups. pain and England are ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the FIFA rankings and played each other in the final of Euro 2024, which Spain won. Croatia was a semifinalist at each of the last two World Cups. Defending Nations League champion Portugal was grouped with Denmark, Norway and Wales. France was drawn against Italy, Belgium and Turkey. Germany, Netherlands, Serbia and Greece are in the other League A group. The 2026-27 Nations League group phase runs from September to November. The top two in the League A groups then play in the quarterfinals in March 2027, with the final tournament in June. Ireland and Israel drawn together ===================== Ireland and Israel are in the same group in League B, which could be the cause of some tension. Ireland's soccer federation voted in November to submit a motion to UEFA to ban Israel from competitions organised by European soccer's governing body. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) cited two alleged violations of UEFA statutes by the Israel Football Association. The first was ''organising clubs in occupied Palestinian territories without the consent of the Palestinian FA'' and the second was ''the alleged failure of the IFA to enforce an effective anti-racism policy.'' But on Thursday the FAI confirmed it would fulfill its games against Israel -- noting potential sanctions such as disqualification if it refused to play. The full draw ======== League A Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czech Republic Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales League B Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia? Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland Group B3: Israel, Austria, Ireland, Kosovo Group B4: Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden League C Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia/Gibraltar Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg/Malta League D Group D1: Latvia/Gibraltar, Luxembourg/Malta, Andorra Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein. AP SSC SSC

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