Nations League 2026/27: Draw in February, Armenia to avoid Finland and Slovakia

The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League draw will take place on February 12 in Brussels, when national teams will learn their group-stage opponents for the fifth edition of the tournament.

For the Armenian national team, the upcoming draw is particularly important: the team has been placed in Pot 2 of League C, which can be considered a favorable starting position.

Armenia’s position before the draw

Being in Pot 2 means Armenia will not face teams from the same pot — Finland, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. This automatically removes several strong opponents and increases the chances of landing in a competitive, balanced group.

Armenia effectively has the status of a “mid-seeded” side, opening the door to a more even quartet and keeping real promotion hopes to League B alive.

Possible opponents

According to the distribution, Pot 1 in League C includes:

• Iceland

• Albania

• Montenegro

• Kazakhstan

These are the teams Armenia could battle for top spot with. Albania and Iceland currently look the most dangerous, showing solid results in the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle.

From other pots, attention also goes to less high-profile but rapidly improving sides. The Faroe Islands, for example, have already made a statement in European competitions and previously managed to defeat Armenia in the Nations League.

An interesting potential group

One intriguing scenario could be:
Kazakhstan — Armenia — Belarus — Moldova

Such a group would look very balanced and generate strong interest among fans across the post-Soviet region — no clear favorite, but intense competition.

Why this edition is especially important

The 2026/27 Nations League is directly linked to seeding for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw. Moreover, group winners will receive an additional playoff route to the European Championship if they fail to qualify directly.

Therefore, winning the group becomes a strategic objective — not only prestige and promotion, but also an important tournament “safety net” on the road to a major international event.

Tournament calendar

Group stage
Matchdays 1–4: September 24 – October 6, 2026
Matchdays 5–6: November 12–17, 2026

Promotion/Relegation playoffs (A/B and B/C)
March 25–30, 2027

Final tournament
June 9–15, 2027 (dates to be confirmed)

The February draw will mark the starting point of a new European cycle and, for Armenia, a chance to secure a favorable path and seriously challenge for a return to a higher division.