Nations League finale: Türkiye fight to stay up as England chase quarter-final spot

Türkiye host Belgium in İzmir and England welcome Croatia to Wembley on Thursday as the final round of UEFA Nations League fixtures gets under way. Northern Ireland are in contention for promotion to League A, while Azerbaijan head to Liechtenstein looking to finish top of their group.

All four UK home nations are in action between 12 and 17 November, with Scotland chasing a promotion play-off place and Wales still in the running for the quarter-finals. Azerbaijan also have a friendly in Andorra after their final competitive fixture.

Türkiye need a first win in İzmir

Four defeats from four have left Türkiye bottom of Group A1, six points behind Belgium. Under new head coach Sergen Yalçın (pictured top), they need to win at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium on Thursday to keep their hopes of climbing out of fourth place alive. Belgium won 3–0 when the teams met in October, and Türkiye finish their campaign away to group leaders France in Bordeaux on Sunday.

Even fourth place could offer a route to survival. Under the revised Nations League format, the two highest-ranked fourth-placed sides across League A go into a promotion and relegation play-off. The other two drop straight into League B.

Both of Türkiye’s Nations League matches will be shown live and free-to-air on ATV.

England can seal their place at Wembley

A point against Croatia would put England into the quarter-finals. Thomas Tuchel’s side won 7–0 in Croatia last month and have taken nine points from four games, three fewer than Spain.

England then travel to Madrid on Sunday to face the world champions, who won 3–2 at Wembley in September and have already qualified for the last eight. Both England matches are live on ITV1 in the UK.

Wales face Norway and the reigning champions

Wales travel to Oslo on Saturday level on three points with Norway, having won the reverse fixture 2–1 in October. Defeat would end Welsh hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, with second-placed Denmark already three points ahead.

Craig Bellamy’s side round off their campaign against reigning Nations League champions Portugal at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday. Portugal have won all four of their group games, including a 1–0 victory over Wales in September.

Scotland chase a play-off as Northern Ireland eye promotion

Scotland host North Macedonia at Hampden Park on Friday before travelling to St Gallen to face Switzerland on Monday. They sit three points behind second-placed Slovenia in Group B1 and need results to go their way to claim a promotion play-off. Scott McTominay is back in the squad for the final two games.

Northern Ireland lead Group B2 by a point from Hungary after four games without conceding. A draw against Ukraine at Windsor Park on Saturday would guarantee a top-two finish, while a win would secure promotion that night if Hungary lose in Georgia. Northern Ireland finish away to Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday, where top spot could still be on the line.

Azerbaijan aim to finish top

Azerbaijan take a one-point lead over Lithuania into Friday’s trip to Vaduz. A win over Liechtenstein would secure top spot in Group D2, regardless of how Lithuania fare in their final game on Monday.

Azerbaijan are already assured of a place in League C for the next edition, with all League D teams moving up as the competition switches to three tiers. They end the international break with a friendly against Andorra in Encamp on Monday.

NOVEMBER 2026 FIXTURES

All kick-off times are UK time (GMT).

The Nations League quarter-final and play-off draw takes place on Friday 20 November at 11:00 UK