Switzerland has been drawn into Group 4 of League A in the UEFA Nations League, alongside Scotland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia, following a draw held Thursday in Brussels. The competition, which will notice matches played between September 24th and November 17th, 2026, presents a challenging path for the Swiss side as they aim to return to the top tier of European football.
The draw pits Switzerland against a Scotland team currently ranked 38th in the FIFA world rankings, considered the most significant obstacle to promotion. Scotland, buoyed by the form of midfielder Scott McTominay, recently qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998, as highlighted by celebrations at the National Galleries of Scotland. The two nations last met at the 2024 European Championships in Germany, playing to a 1-1 draw in Cologne, with McTominay scoring a penalty and Xherdan Shaqiri netting for Switzerland – a result that secured Switzerland’s advancement in the tournament.
Slovenia, ranked 57th, and North Macedonia, ranked 66th, complete the group. Switzerland recently faced Slovenia in qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup, securing a 3-0 victory at home in September 2025 with goals from Nico Elvedi, Breel Embolo, and Dan Ndoye, followed by a goalless draw in Ljubljana a month later. These recent encounters provide Switzerland with familiarity against one of their group opponents.
National coach Murat Yakin expressed optimism following the draw, stating the group is “sporty, exciting” and that his team is “looking forward to the six games and want to prove that we belong in League A.” Switzerland was relegated from League A in the previous edition, finishing in a group with Spain, Denmark, and Serbia.
The UEFA Nations League too serves as a potential pathway to qualify for the 2028 European Championship finals, which will be hosted in Great Britain and Ireland. According to UEFA, the Nations League will offer some teams a second chance to qualify for the tournament via playoffs.
Elsewhere in League A, Portugal, the defending champions led by Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, will compete against Denmark, Norway, and Wales in Group 3. Other notable groups include Germany versus the Netherlands in Group 2, and Spain against England in Group 4. The host nation for the Final Four tournament in June 2027 remains to be determined. The final match is scheduled for June 13, 2027.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay has been central to both Scotland’s and Napoli’s recent successes. Since joining Napoli in 2024, McTominay won the Serie A title in his debut season, earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award and a nomination for the Ballon d’Or. His form has continued on the international stage, with a recent spectacular bicycle kick against Denmark contributing to Scotland’s World Cup qualification. Since the start of 2023, McTominay has been involved in 15 goals for Scotland, more than twice as many as any other player.
