The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League returns with new faces in the dugout.
Eight League A nations will start with new coaches, including Jürgen Klopp with Germany, Xavi Hernández with the Netherlands, Zinédine Zidane with France and Roberto Mancini back with Italy.
Portugal, Belgium, Croatia and Czechia will also begin with new managers. The opening matchday starts Thursday, September 24, during a 16-day international break.
Klopp is taking his first national team job after more than 20 years in club football. He left Liverpool in 2024 after nine years, winning the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.
He called the Germany job the pinnacle of his career. His first game is Netherlands vs Germany on September 24.
Xavi also starts against Germany. The Barcelona great won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, two Euros and a World Cup as a player.
He coached Al-Sadd and Barcelona, winning La Liga in 2022/23. He said Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels give him a special bond with Dutch football.
Portugal, the defending champions, will be led by 72-year-old Jorge Jesus. He won three titles with Benfica, plus titles in Brazil and Saudi Arabia with Flamengo and Al Nassr.
He described Cristiano Ronaldo as a symbol of Portuguese football. Portugal face Wales first.
Zidane takes charge of France after winning the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000 as a player and three straight Champions Leagues with Real Madrid as coach.
He said he rejected club offers while waiting for France. His debut is against Türkiye on September 25.
Mancini returns to Italy after winning EURO 2020 in his first spell from 2018 to 2023. His first game back is against Belgium.
Belgium have appointed former Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel for his first senior national team job. He won 79 caps and reached the 2010 World Cup final.
Croatia have brought back Slaven Bilić, who previously managed them from 2006 to 2012. He lost only eight of 65 games in that spell.
Czechia will be led by Santi Denia, who won the U17 EURO, U19 EURO and Paris 2024 Olympic gold with Spain’s youth teams.
Other openers include Serbia vs Greece, Norway vs Denmark and England vs Spain.
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