England vs Spain: UEFA Nations League – Predictions, teams, head-to-head | Football
England Faces Spain in UEFA Nations League Opener at Wembley
England will launch its UEFA Nations League 2026-27 campaign with a highly anticipated match against reigning world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium in London. The match is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, with kick-off set for 7:45 p.m. local time (18:45 GMT). Fans can follow live updates on Al Jazeera Sport, starting from 3:45 p.m. GMT.
This encounter marks a rematch of the UEFA Euro 2024 final, where Spain triumphed over England 2-1 in Berlin, securing their fourth European title. Spain, the 2023 Nations League champions, are eager to add another title after finishing as runners-up to Portugal in the previous edition in 2025.
England seeks to reestablish itself in League A after winning Group B2 in their last appearance. Previously, their best result came in the inaugural 2019 edition when they finished third. Croatia and Czechia will also compete in Group A3 alongside England and Spain.
The UEFA Nations League, established in 2018, aims to minimize meaningless friendlies and provide teams with competitive matches against similarly ranked opponents through a league system that includes promotion and relegation.
In terms of predictions, statistical model Opta indicates that Spain has a 40.2% chance of winning, while England’s odds stand at 33.6%. The likelihood of a draw is estimated at 26.2%.
Historically, Spain has had the upper hand, winning six out of the last nine encounters with England. Their most recent meeting in the Euro 2024 final resulted in a 2-1 victory for Spain, further underlining their dominance.
Head-to-Head Record
- Matches: 28
- England Wins: 13
- Spain Wins: 11
- Draws: 4
Recent Form
England: W-L-W-W-W
Spain: W-W-W-W-W
Key Players to Watch
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham (England): Captain Harry Kane of Bayern Munich has been pivotal, becoming the fastest player to score 100 goals in Bundesliga history. Jude Bellingham, now with Real Madrid, has made a strong start this season, contributing three goals and three assists in seven La Liga matches.
Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal (Spain): Torres, who netted a hat-trick in his Champions League debut with Paris Saint-Germain, will be a focal point for Spain. Lamine Yamal, his former Barcelona teammate, is also in excellent form, having scored seven goals in just seven La Liga appearances.
Coaches’ Comments
Thomas Tuchel, England coach: “Spain’s defensive setup is impressive. They have made it difficult for teams to create chances. We have our plan and ambition, and we aim to be the exception.”
Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach: “Our players are eager to achieve more. We are not content with past achievements; we aim to continue setting records.”
Broadcast Information
United Kingdom: ITV1
Spain: RTVE PLAY
Middle East and North Africa: beIN SPORTS
India: Sony Sports Network
South Africa: DStv Stream
United States: FOX Sports, FuboTV, ViX
Team News
England: Winger Marcus Rashford is sidelined with an injury, and attacking midfielder Cole Palmer will also miss the match due to a muscle issue.
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: Centre-back Marc Pubill is unavailable due to 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.
