England host world champions Spain in Nations League opener – all to know

Who: England vs Spain
What: UEFA Nations League ۲۰۲۶-۲۷, Group A۳ match
Where: Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom
When: Saturday, September ۲۶, at ۷:۴۵pm (۱۸:۴۵ GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from ۱۵:۴۵ GMT.

England begin their new Nations League campaign with a heavyweight home fixture against the reigning world champions, Spain.

Saturday’s clash at Wembley will be a rematch of the UEFA Euro ۲۰۲۴ final, which Spain won ۲-۱ in Berlin, Germany.

La Roja, the ۲۰۲۳ Nations League winners, are looking to add a second title to their collection, having also finished runners-up to Portugal in the last edition in ۲۰۲۵.

England, on the other hand, enjoyed their best result in the inaugural ۲۰۱۹ edition, finishing third. They return to League A this time after winning Group B۲ in their previous appearance.

Competing in the top division of the structured competition, Croatia and Czechia are the other teams in Group A۳ with England and Spain.

What is the UEFA Nations League?

The UEFA Nations League was founded in ۲۰۱۸ to reduce the number of meaningless friendlies and give nations competitive matches against equally-ranked teams.

In this competition, countries from across Europe participate in a league structure, which features promotion and relegation.

England vs Spain: Predictions

Opta’s supercomputer has handed Spain a ۴۰.۲ percent probability of victory, while England have a ۳۳.۶ percent chance of winning. The odds of a draw stand at ۲۶.۲ percent.

When did England and Spain last meet?

Spain have won six of their last nine meetings with England.

England and Spain last met at the UEFA Euro ۲۰۲۴ final, in which goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal handed La Roja a ۲-۱ championship victory. That result marked a record-breaking fourth European crown for Spain.

England vs Spain: Head-to-head

• Matches: ۲۸
• England wins: ۱۳
• Spain wins: ۱۱
• Draws: ۴

England vs Spain: Form guide

(Last five games, latest results first)

England: W-L-W-W-W

Spain: W-W-W-W-W

Which are the top players to watch?

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham (England): All English hopes will once again rest on captain and Ballon d’Or frontrunner Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, who recently became the fastest player to ۱۰۰ German Bundesliga goals. Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Jude Bellingham has made an impressive start under new Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, producing three goals and three assists in seven La Liga appearances.

Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal (Spain): La Roja fans will be excited to see Ferran Torres in the national team colours this weekend after he scored a hat-trick in his first Champions League appearance for new club Paris Saint-Germain. His former Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, too, is enjoying a strong start this season, with his seven goals rated joint-second-highest in La Liga.

What have the coaches said?

Thomas Tuchel, England coach: “I think the more you analyse Spain and their last matches they played in, you have to admire the way in which they defend. They added this to their game. It’s difficult for every single team in the world to create chances against Spain. But we have a plan, we have ambition, and we want to be the exception to the rule. At the moment, though, they are a very complete team.”

Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach: “I know what these players are made of. We are not satisfied with what we have done so far, I guarantee it. One story is over; now another begins. Another one in which we are very excited. We want to continue doing important things, to continue making records as historic as those that are being achieved.”

England vs Spain: TV channel, livestreaming

• United Kingdom: ITV۱
• Spain: RTVE PLAY
• Middle East and North Africa: beIN SPORTS
• India: Sony Sports Network
• South Africa: DStv Stream
• United States: FOX Sports, FuboTV, ViX

England’s team news and predicted lineup

England are without winger Marcus Rashford, who picked up a knock, and attacking midfielder Cole Palmer, who has a muscle injury.

Probable England XI: Jordan Pickford; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly; Elliot Anderson, Miles Lewis-Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane

Spain’s team news and predicted lineup

Centre-back Marc Pubill is sidelined with physical discomfort, and goalkeeper Joan Garcia is out with a knee injury.

Probable Spain XI: Unai Simon; Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella; Fermin Lopez, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nico Williams