How to follow Wales in the Nations League on the BBC

Following the disappointment of missing out on this summer's World Cup, Craig Bellamy's Wales side return to competitive action in the Uefa Nations League.

Wales begin their League A Group Four Campaign with four matches in 10 days, starting at Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday, 24 September (19:45 BST).

They then travel to Denmark on Sunday (17:00 BST), before hosting Norway and Denmark at Cardiff City Stadium on 1 October and 4 October respectively.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming fixtures.

Bellamy's team's four matches against Portugal, Denmark and Norway will be shown live across BBC One and BBC Two Wales, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport Websiteand app.

You can listen to live commentary on BBC Sounds via BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

Commentary is also available on BBC Sport Online and via BBC Radio Wales on FM/DAB & DTV.

Live text commentary will be available on the BBC Sport website and app.

Two of Wales' Nations League opponents enjoyed relative World Cup success this summer.

Portugal reached the last 16 before being edged out by eventual winners Spain thanks to a late Mikel Merino strike and Norway were beaten 2-1 by England in the quarter-finals courtesy of a Jude Bellingham brace.

Both sides also boast some of world football's biggest names. Erling Haaland continues to spearhead Norway's attack, having scored 62 goals in 54 international appearances.

Portugal, meanwhile, haveRonaldo after his former Al-Ittihad head coach Jorge Jesus selected the 41-year-old in his squad.

Ronaldo could face Wales for the first time since his header put Portugal on their way to a 2-0 win in the Euros semi-final in 2016.

Denmark will also provide a stern test. Although they failed to qualify for the World Cup, the Danes are ranked 21st in the world and possess quality throughout their squad.

This includes Napoli striker Rasmus Hojlund, Porto midfielder Victor Froholdt and Brentford playmaker Mikkel Damsgaard.

Denmark have won each of their last three encounters with the Dragons, most recently in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

Norway are a less familiar opponent. Wales have not faced them since 2011, when goals from Gareth Bale, Sam Vokes and current manager Craig Bellamy helped secure a 4-1 victory.

Wales' initial squad already contained gaps particularly in defence with Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor unavailable for selection.

Wales will also now be without talisman Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and number one goalkeeper Karl Darlow through injury.

The absences have paved way for opportunities. Cardiff City's Cian Ashford, Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor and veteran Leicester City keeper David Cornell have earned their first call-ups.

Reading midfielder Charlie Savage, Oxford United's Mark Harris and Leicester duo Wes Burns and Liam Cullen also return to the squad. Burns could make his first international appearance since 2024.

Craig Bellamy was subject to intense speculation over the vacancy of Burnley's managerial role this summer.

Bellamy has since said: "I had a decision to make and I made it.

"It didn't break down. I said no, it's not for me. That was it. There was no walk away from discussions. It wasn't for me.

"I made the decision to stay because this is the right place for me.

"We had a conversation, but I was already in a role and this (Wales) was what I wanted.

"It was flattering – we all like our ego being exercised and being wanted – but for me, my partner, my kids, this is the place and we didn't see anything else being able to move that.

"I'm comfortable with the decision I've made. I've always been committed in everything I do and that hasn't changed.

"Now, winning people over? I don't know, that's the honest truth."

The Nations League provides Wales with an important route towards Euro 2028 qualification and offers a valuable safety net if their conventional qualifying campaign falls short.

The league phase runs from September 24 to November 17, 2026, with Wales drawn in League A Group 4 alongside Portugal, Denmark and Norway.

A top-two finish would see Craig Bellamy's side advance to the two-legged quarter-finals in March 2027.

Group winners would be seeded and host the second leg against a runner-up from another group.

The four quarter-final winners progress to the Nations League Finals in June 2027.

While winning the competition does not secure automatic qualification for Euro 2028, reaching the latter stages can provide a crucial play-off safety net.

Should Wales fail to finish in the top two, the implications are different.

A third-place finish would be enough to retain League A status for the next Nations League cycle with no further permutations.

However, finishing fourth, bottom, would leave Wales facing a relegation play-off against a League B runner-up, with their place in the top tier at stake.