When and where is England vs Spain 2026?
England vs Spain takes place on Saturday 26 September 2026, with kick-off at 7:45pm BST, at Wembley Stadium in London — England's national stadium and the largest football venue in the UK, with a capacity of around 90,000. It's Matchday 1 of both nations' 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign, and the first competitive meeting between England and Spain since the UEFA Euro 2024 final in Berlin, which Spain won 2-1.
The reverse fixture, Spain vs England, is scheduled for Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, home of Atlético Madrid, with a capacity of 70,692 — closing out the group phase for both teams.
| Fixture | Date | Kick-off | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Spain | Saturday 26 September 2026 | 7:45pm BST | Wembley Stadium, London |
| Spain vs England | Sunday 15 November 2026 | 7:45pm GMT (8:45pm local) | Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid |
Why this fixture matters: the Euro 2024 rematch
Few Nations League openers arrive with this much weight behind them. Spain beat England 2-1 in the UEFA Euro 2024 final, denying Thomas Tuchel's side a first major men's trophy since 1966. Since then, both nations went on to reach the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America: Spain went all the way, beating Argentina 2-1 in the final with teenage star Lamine Yamal starring throughout, while England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-final before beating France 6-4 in an extraordinary third-place play-off, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick.
That gives this Wembley meeting genuine sporting stakes beyond the Nations League table — England's first shot at revenge against the reigning World and European champions, on home turf, in front of a sold-out crowd. Add in Croatia and Czechia completing a genuinely tough League A, Group 3, and both England fixtures against Spain look set to be among the standout matches of the entire 2026/27 international calendar.
More England fixtures: full Nations League 2026/27 schedule
England play six group-phase matches across three international windows. Here's the full schedule for League A, Group 3.
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England vs Spain (H) | Sat 26 Sep 2026 | 7:45pm BST |
| 2 | Czechia vs England (A) | Tue 29 Sep 2026 | 7:45pm BST |
| 3 | Croatia vs England (A) — behind closed doors* | Sat 3 Oct 2026 | 5:00pm BST |
| 4 | England vs Czechia (H) | Tue 6 Oct 2026 | 7:45pm BST |
| 5 | England vs Croatia (H) | Thu 12 Nov 2026 | 7:45pm GMT |
| 6 | Spain vs England (A) | Sun 15 Nov 2026 | 7:45pm GMT |
*England's trip to Croatia will be played behind closed doors as a result of a UEFA sanction against the Croatian federation. Group winners advance to the quarter-finals in March 2027, with the four-team finals taking place in June 2027.
For the full tournament overview, group standings and every England fixture in one place, visit our UEFA Nations League 2026 hub.
England vs Spain tickets: how to get them
With this fixture doubling as a Euro 2024 final rematch and the opener of a genuinely tough Nations League group, demand for England vs Spain tickets is expected to be exceptionally high.
- Official channel: England home tickets are sold through the official England Football ticket ballot system at englandfootball.com, with England Supporters Club and Travel Club members typically given priority access ahead of any general sale.
- Hospitality packages: official Wembley-appointed hospitality partners offer premium and corporate packages, including padded seating, pre-match dining and lounge access, for those wanting a guaranteed, upgraded matchday experience.
- Away tickets in Madrid: for the reverse fixture, tickets are sold through the Spanish federation's (RFEF) official ticketing app, with information on England's away allocation communicated separately through England Football.
- Buy only through official channels: Wembley operates a strict, named-ticket policy for major fixtures, and tickets bought through unofficial resale sites carry a real risk of being invalid or drastically overpriced — always use official outlets.
Ticket sale dates are confirmed by the FA in the weeks leading up to the fixture — check our UEFA Nations League 2026 hub for the latest updates, and start planning your travel and accommodation now, since hotels near Wembley sell out well before tickets are even released.
England squad: key players to watch
England's Nations League squad for September will be confirmed closer to the fixture, but based on the group that took England to a World Cup semi-final and bronze medal finish in summer 2026, these are the players most likely to shape the game against Spain.
| Player | Position | Why watch him |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kane | Forward, Captain | England's all-time leading World Cup scorer as of the 2026 finals; leads the line and the squad. |
| Jude Bellingham | Midfielder | Scored crucial goals throughout England's 2026 World Cup run, including the winner in the bronze medal match. |
| Bukayo Saka | Forward/Winger | Scored a hat-trick in England's World Cup third-place play-off win over France. |
| Declan Rice | Midfielder | England's defensive midfield anchor, central to Tuchel's system throughout the World Cup. |
| Jordan Pickford | Goalkeeper | England's undisputed number one, ever-present through the World Cup campaign. |
Spain squad: key players to watch
Spain arrive at Wembley as reigning World and European champions under Luis de la Fuente, fresh from a 2026 World Cup triumph in which they conceded just one goal across the entire knockout run.
| Player | Position | Why watch him |
|---|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal | Forward/Winger | Became the first teenager to start both a World Cup final and a European Championship final; the face of Spain's new generation. |
| Pedri | Midfielder | Central to Spain's possession-based control through their 2026 World Cup title run. |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | Forward | Scored a crucial penalty in Spain's 2026 World Cup final win over Argentina. |
| Pedro Porro | Defender | Scored in the World Cup final and offers a constant attacking outlet from full-back. |
| Unai Simón | Goalkeeper | Spain's number one, ever present behind a defence that conceded just once across the entire 2026 World Cup knockout stage. |
Squads for both teams will be officially confirmed closer to the September international window — check back for updates nearer the match.
England vs Spain: head-to-head comparison
| Factor | England | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Most recent major final | Euro 2024 runners-up (lost 2-1 to Spain) | Euro 2024 champions (beat England 2-1) |
| 2026 World Cup result | Third place (bronze medal), lost semi-final to Argentina | Champions, beat Argentina 2-1 in the final |
| Manager | Thomas Tuchel | Luis de la Fuente |
| Home venue capacity | Wembley Stadium — approx. 90,000 | Various; Metropolitano (Madrid) — 70,692 |
England vs Spain: where to watch, TV channel & live stream
England's UEFA Nations League fixtures are typically shown live and free-to-air in the UK on BBC or ITV, alternating by fixture — the specific broadcaster for England vs Spain will be confirmed closer to matchday. Whichever channel holds the rights, live streaming is normally available through the broadcaster's app, such as BBC iPlayer or ITVX, at no extra cost for UK viewers with a TV licence.
Travelling for the match and want to watch from a pub or fan zone near Wembley? Central London and the area around Wembley Park have a wide range of sports bars that show major England fixtures on big screens — worth booking a table in advance given expected demand around this game.
Hotels near Wembley Stadium: where to stay
Wembley Stadium sits in outer north-west London, well connected by Underground and overground rail, which gives visiting fans two realistic options for where to stay.
- Stay near Wembley: a cluster of hotels within a 10–20 minute walk of Wembley Park station puts you closest to the stadium and the pre-match atmosphere along Wembley Way, ideal if you want to minimise travel on matchday itself.
- Stay in central London: central hotels near Baker Street, Marylebone or Paddington offer more choice and nightlife, with a straightforward 20–30 minute Tube journey on the Jubilee or Metropolitan line direct to Wembley Park.
- Book early: hotels close to Wembley for major England fixtures sell out weeks in advance, particularly for a high-demand match like this one — booking as soon as your travel dates are confirmed is strongly recommended.
England vs Spain travel guide: getting to Wembley
Whether you're travelling from elsewhere in the UK or flying in internationally, getting to Wembley Stadium is straightforward.
- Flights to England for the Nations League: London is served by five major airports — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City — all connected to central London and onward to Wembley Park by rail or Underground within roughly an hour.
- Getting to the stadium: Wembley Park (Jubilee and Metropolitan lines) and Wembley Stadium station (Chiltern Railways/London Overground) both sit around a 10-minute walk from the ground. Wembley is a cashless venue on matchday, with contactless and card payments only.
- Matchday timing: arrive at least 90 minutes to two hours before kick-off to allow for security checks, station crowds and the walk in — Wembley's restricted bag policy is worth checking in advance.
- Flights to Spain for the away leg: if you're following England to Madrid for the 15 November return fixture, Madrid-Barajas Airport is well connected from UK airports, with a journey time of around 2.5 hours.
Compare flights and start planning your trip to either fixture on our UEFA Nations League 2026 event hub, where you'll find live fare comparisons and the latest travel updates as ticket and broadcast details are confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
When is England vs Spain 2026?
England host Spain at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 26 September 2026, with kick-off at 7:45pm BST. It is the opening fixture of both teams' 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign.
Where is England vs Spain 2026 being played?
The match is being played at Wembley Stadium in London, England's national stadium, with a capacity of around 90,000. The return fixture, Spain vs England, is scheduled for Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid.
What time does England vs Spain kick off?
Kick-off at Wembley is scheduled for 7:45pm BST on Saturday 26 September 2026.
How can I get England vs Spain tickets?
England home tickets are sold through the official England Football ticket balloting system at englandfootball.com, typically opening to England Supporters Club members before any general sale. Hospitality and premium packages are also available through official Wembley-appointed agents.
Where can I buy England vs Spain tickets in the UK?
The safest and only guaranteed-valid route is the official England Football ticket portal. Buying through unofficial resale sites carries a risk of invalid or inflated-price tickets, since Wembley operates a strict, named-ticket policy for major fixtures.
Is England vs Spain likely to sell out?
Given it's a rematch of the Euro 2024 final against the reigning World Cup and European champions, opening England's home Nations League campaign, demand is expected to be exceptionally high, and the fixture is likely to sell out quickly once tickets go on general sale.
What TV channel is England vs Spain on in the UK?
England's UEFA Nations League matches are typically shown live and free-to-air on BBC or ITV in the UK, with the specific broadcaster for this fixture confirmed closer to matchday.
Can I live stream England vs Spain in the UK?
Yes, UK broadcasters typically offer a live stream alongside their TV coverage via their respective apps and websites, such as BBC iPlayer or ITVX, for viewers watching England's Nations League fixtures.
Is this a rematch of the Euro 2024 final?
Yes. Spain beat England 2-1 in the UEFA Euro 2024 final in Berlin, and this September 2026 meeting at Wembley is the first competitive fixture between the two sides since that final.
What group are England in for the 2026/27 Nations League?
England are in League A, Group 3, alongside Spain, Croatia and Czechia, with the group played across the September, October and November 2026 international windows.
What are England's other Nations League fixtures?
After hosting Spain on 26 September, England travel to Czechia on 29 September, play away at Croatia on 3 October (behind closed doors due to a UEFA sanction), host Czechia on 6 October, host Croatia on 12 November, and finish the group away to Spain on 15 November.
When do Spain and England play again after Wembley?
The reverse fixture, Spain vs England, takes place on Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, closing out the group phase for both sides.
Where is the Spain vs England return fixture played?
The return fixture is played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, home of Atlético Madrid, which has a capacity of 70,692.
How do I get to Wembley Stadium?
Wembley Stadium is served by Wembley Park (London Underground, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines) and Wembley Stadium station (London Overground/mainline), both around a 10-minute walk from the stadium. Wembley operates as a public transport destination on major event days, with cash not accepted inside the ground.
What hotels are near Wembley Stadium for England vs Spain?
Hotels close to Wembley Stadium range from budget chain hotels within walking distance of Wembley Park station to a wider choice of central London hotels a short Tube ride away, all of which sell out fast for major fixtures, so booking as early as possible is strongly recommended.
How early should I arrive at Wembley for the match?
Arriving at least 90 minutes to two hours before kick-off is recommended for a major fixture like England vs Spain, allowing time for security checks, the walk from the station, and pre-match atmosphere around Wembley Way.
Can I fly to London just for the England vs Spain match?
Yes, London is served by five major airports — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and City — making it straightforward to fly in for a short trip around the match, whether from elsewhere in the UK or internationally.
Do I need a visa to travel to Spain for the away game in Madrid?
British passport holders visiting Spain for tourism, including for a football match, can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. Always check the latest UK Government travel advice for Spain before booking.
Who are the key players to watch in England vs Spain?
For England, captain Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, fresh from starring roles at the 2026 World Cup, are expected to lead the side. For Spain, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri, both key figures in Spain's 2026 World Cup triumph, are among the players to watch.
What is the history between England and Spain in football?
England and Spain have a long rivalry, most recently defined by Spain's 2-1 win over England in the UEFA Euro 2024 final. Spain went on to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while England reached the World Cup semi-final before finishing third.
How much are England vs Spain tickets?
Official ticket prices vary by category and are confirmed by England Football closer to the on-sale date. Given the significance of the fixture, prices are expected to be toward the higher end of typical England home international pricing.