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Switzerland host Slovenia at the Thermoplan Arena (formerly Swissporarena) in Lucerne on Saturday, 3 October, with first place in League B Group 1 at stake. Only the group winner goes up to League A; second place means a play-off. A home slip could cost the Swiss the group, and with it the chance to undo last season’s relegation on the first attempt. Slovenia sit second on four points and arrive as the only side that can overtake the leaders this weekend.
Switzerland finished bottom of their League A group in 2024-25 with two points from six games and were relegated. They have responded with 3-0 away wins at North Macedonia and Scotland, with Zeki Amdouni scoring three of the six goals and the defence keeping two clean sheets. Two games, two wins and six goals scored without reply is a strong answer to relegation.
At Hampden Park, they played more than 80 minutes against ten men. Lucerne is their first League B home game, and captain Granit Xhaka and striker Breel Embolo are absent. The task now shifts from winning away to managing expectations at home.
Group winners are promoted to League A for 2028-29. Runners-up play a two-legged play-off in March 2027 against a third- or fourth-placed League A side, who host the second leg. Fourth place faces a relegation play-off. The prize is a full tier, while the consolation is a two-legged tie with no guarantee.
If teams finish level, points from the matches between them decide first. Switzerland’s remaining games are Slovenia, North Macedonia (6 October, Lucerne), Slovenia away and Scotland (16 November, St. Gallen). A Slovenian win would put them on seven points to Switzerland’s six, with the head-to-head lead before the 13 November return in Ljubljana. Goal difference matters less than the direct meetings, which makes both fixtures between the two worth more than their points alone.
| Team | Played | Points | Goal difference | Games remaining | Toughest remaining fixture |
| Switzerland | 2 | 6 | +6 | 4 | Slovenia (home 3 Oct, away 13 Nov) |
| Slovenia | 2 | 4 | +2 | 4 | Switzerland (away 3 Oct, home 13 Nov) |
| Scotland | 2 | 1 | -3 | 4 | Switzerland (away 16 Nov) |
| North Macedonia | 2 | 0 | -5 | 4 | Switzerland (away 6 Oct) |
Slovenia’s two Nations League games were both at home: 0-0 with Scotland, 2-0 over North Macedonia. Neither game has taken them on the road, so Lucerne is their first real test in this group. Since September 2025, their away record is one win, two draws and three defeats, including a 3-0 loss in Switzerland, a 1-1 draw in Sweden and a 2-1 defeat in Croatia.
Benjamin Šeško is out with a shin problem; reports on Benjamin Verbič and Andraž Šporar conflict, so check team sheets. History is against the visitors: Switzerland have won seven of 11 meetings, drawn two and lost two, and Slovenia have lost four of the last six. With a thin away record, the visitors’ best hope is a low-scoring game.
Scotland’s only point came in a 0-0 draw in Ljubljana. They host Slovenia on 6 October and visit Switzerland on 16 November. Scotland are not in the race for first, but they hold fixtures against both leaders.
Bottom-placed North Macedonia, beaten 3-0 by Switzerland and 2-0 by Slovenia, visit Lucerne on 6 October and host Slovenia on 16 November. Both can still disturb the leaders. Spoiler roles matter when the table is this tight, and the two bottom sides each have a date with a leader.
A Swiss win gives them nine points to four, a five-point cushion with three games left. A draw leaves it 7-5 to Switzerland, with Ljubljana on 13 November looming. A Slovenian win flips it 7-6 to Slovenia, and the Swiss must answer in Ljubljana. Nothing is settled after Saturday, but a Swiss win would come close.
Because head-to-head points count first, the two Switzerland-Slovenia games could decide any tie at the top. That makes the 13 November return the likely decider, whatever happens in Lucerne. The Switzerland vs Slovenia Nations League 2026 promotion race therefore runs through Lucerne on Saturday and Ljubljana on 13 November.
Will the Swiss take control of the group on Saturday, or can Slovenia spring a surprise in Lucerne? Drop your score prediction below.
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How does promotion from Nations League B work?
Group winners go up to League A, while runners-up enter March 2027 play-offs against League A sides. Fourth place faces a relegation play-off, and teams level on points are separated by head-to-head results first.
Who is in Switzerland’s Nations League group?
Switzerland are in Group B1 with Slovenia, Scotland and North Macedonia. The Swiss lead on six points, Slovenia have four, Scotland one and North Macedonia none after two games each.
What time is Switzerland vs Slovenia kick-off?
Kick-off is 20:45 CEST on Saturday 3 October. That is 19:45 UK time and 00:45 on Sunday in Bangladesh, at the Thermoplan Arena in Lucerne, the Swiss first League B home game.
Where can I watch Switzerland vs Slovenia?
Sony Sports Network shows it in Bangladesh and India, with Prime Video in the UK. In the US, Fox Sports, Fubo and ViX carry it, so check local listings for exact channels.
Who won the last Switzerland vs Slovenia match?
Nobody did, as it finished 0-0 in Ljubljana on 13 October 2025. Switzerland won the previous meeting 3-0, so the Swiss have not lost either of the last two.
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