England vs Spain: UEFA Nations League – Predictions, teams, head-to-head

What the report says

England host Spain at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, September 26, in the opening match of their UEFA Nations League 2026-27 Group A3 campaign, with kickoff set for 7:45pm local time. Al Jazeera reports that the fixture is a rematch of the UEFA Euro 2024 final, which Spain won 2-1 in Berlin, and that the group also includes Croatia and Czechia.

The report places Spain in strong form as the reigning world champions and the 2023 Nations League winners, while England return to League A after topping Group B2 in their previous appearance. Al Jazeera’s preview notes that Opta’s model gives Spain a slight edge, though England also have a realistic chance of winning and the draw remains possible. It also provides a broader context on the Nations League, describing it as a UEFA competition created in 2018 to replace some friendlies with more competitive matches and a system of promotion and relegation.

Team news points to absences on both sides. England are without Marcus Rashford and Cole Palmer, while Spain are missing Marc Pubill and goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The piece highlights Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham for England, and Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal for Spain, as key players likely to shape the contest.

The match is being covered by Al Jazeera Sport, which says it will provide build-up and live updates from 15:45 GMT.