{"id":55161,"date":"2026-02-13T07:54:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T06:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=55161"},"modified":"2026-02-13T07:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T06:56:10","slug":"55161","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/13\/55161\/","title":{"rendered":"Malta discover UEFA Nations League opponents following Brussels draw"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Malta has discovered its potential opponents for the fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League following today\u2019s draw in Brussels.<\/p>\n<p>Malta\u2019s final league status will be confirmed after the upcoming League C\/D Play-Off against Luxembourg in March. Victory over Luxembourg would see Malta compete in League C, while defeat would mean participation in League D.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If Malta Secures League C Status<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Should Malta overcome Luxembourg, the national team will compete in <strong>League C \u2013 Group 4<\/strong>, where it will face:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0Iceland<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Bulgaria<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Estonia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>If Malta Competes in League D<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the event Malta does not progress from the play-off, the team will feature in <strong>League D \u2013 Group 1,\u00a0<\/strong>facing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0Gibraltar\/Latvia<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Andorra<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"umb_image_center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mfa.com.mt\/media\/19988\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-2-_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-udi=\"umb:\/\/media\/d170aa04f2ea40de92517b3226e3ea4c\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>A Group Full of Challenge and Opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The draw has presented Malta with competitive opposition featuring sides with varying styles and strengths. Iceland are known for their tactical discipline, resilience, and for making history in 2016 through their qualification for the UEFA European Championships, while Bulgaria bring exceptional quality through a mixture of young and experience players. In League C, Estonia would add further depth to what promises to be a demanding campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the challenge ahead, the group also offers Malta an opportunity to continue building momentum and demonstrate the progress made in recent years on the international stage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Focus First on the Play-Off<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Before attention turns fully to the league phase, Malta must first overcome Luxembourg in the decisive play-off tie.<\/p>\n<p>The fixtures are scheduled as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>26 March 2026 \u2013 Malta vs Luxembourg (Home)<\/li>\n<li>31 March 2026 \u2013 Luxembourg vs Malta (Away)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These two matches will determine whether Malta competes in League C or League D in the upcoming campaign.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coach Reaction<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Malta National Team Coach Emilio De Leo reacted to the draw:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am neutral about the teams we have drawn. Our full focus right now is on the play-off in March \u2014 that is our only objective. We will analyse the group properly once we know our fate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the importance of the upcoming play-off, he added:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuxembourg is our priority. All our preparation is centred on these two matches. We believe in this squad and we are fully concentrated on achieving our goal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The UEFA Nations League continues to provide Malta with a valuable competitive platform against similarly ranked European nations. With the draw now confirmed, preparations will intensify as Malta aims to approach both the March play-off and the league campaign with ambition and confidence.<\/p>\n<p>Further details regarding match dates and ticket information will be announced in due course.<\/p>\n<p>Source: MFA<\/p>\n<p>Photo: MFA<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_55161\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"55161\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Malta has discovered its potential opponents for the fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League following today\u2019s draw in Brussels. Malta\u2019s final league status will be confirmed after the upcoming League C\/D Play-Off against Luxembourg in March. Victory over Luxembourg would see Malta compete in League C, while defeat would mean participation in League D. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_55161\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"55161\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" 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class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55162,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-55161","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"thumbnail":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-150x113.jpg",150,113,true],"medium":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"large":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"1536x1536":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"2048x2048":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"td_0x420":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"td_80x60":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-80x60.jpg",80,60,true],"td_218x150":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-218x150.jpg",218,150,true],"td_324x400":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-324x300.jpg",324,300,true],"td_696x0":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"td_1068x0":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"td_100x70":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-100x70.jpg",100,70,true],"td_265x198":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-265x198.jpg",265,198,true],"td_324x160":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-324x160.jpg",324,160,true],"td_324x235":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-324x235.jpg",324,235,true],"td_356x220":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-356x220.jpg",356,220,true],"td_356x364":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-356x300.jpg",356,300,true],"td_533x261":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1-400x261.jpg",400,261,true],"td_534x462":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"td_696x385":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"td_741x486":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false],"td_1068x580":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/uefa-nations-league-202628-league-phase-draw-3-_1.jpg",400,300,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Bernard Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Malta has discovered its potential opponents for the fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League following today\u2019s draw in Brussels. Malta\u2019s final league status will be confirmed after the upcoming League C\/D Play-Off against Luxembourg in March. Victory over Luxembourg would see Malta compete in League C, while defeat would mean participation in League D.&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55161"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55165,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55161\/revisions\/55165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}