England hosts Spain in Nations League opener at Wembley

England and Spain faced off on September 26, 2026, in the opening match of League A, Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League at Wembley Stadium in London. The fixture marked the first competitive encounter between the sides since Spain's 2–1 victory in the Euro 2024 final on July 14, 2024, where Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal scored for Spain, with Cole Palmer netting England's sole goal.

England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, named a squad that included Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka, though the team faced several absences due to injury. Spain, guided by Luis de la Fuente and competing as the reigning World Cup champions, fielded a starting XI featuring Rodri, Gavi, and Ferran Torres. The match kicked off at 21:45 UK time (15:45 Brasília time; 10:45 UAE time).

De la Fuente framed the fixture as an ideal test for Spain following their World Cup success, stating it represented "the best possible scenario" for the team's opening match. He emphasized that despite Spain's recent achievements, the squad harbored no complacency and sought to continue winning and improving. Tuchel, meanwhile, dismissed concerns that England's World Cup semifinal exit might unsettle supporters, pointing to the rapid ticket sales as evidence of strong local enthusiasm for the match.

Historically, the two nations have met 28 times, with England winning 13 matches, Spain 11, and four draws. Over the last five meetings, Spain had won three while England took two victories, including a 3–2 Nations League win on October 15, 2018. The match was broadcast live on Disney+ and beIN Sports across multiple regions, with Italian referee Davide Massa officiating.