England's Nations League opponents in profile: Spain, Croatia & Czechia

England were drawn against Spain, Croatia and Czechia in the Nations League 2026-27 draw yesterday evening.

The Three Lions were assigned to group three of League A at Thursday's draw in Brussels.

The fixture schedule has now been confirmed with Thomas Tuchel's side set to kick off their campaign against Spain on Saturday 26 September 2026 (7.45pm BST) on home soil.

England will then play two away games against Czechia on Tuesday 29 September 2026 (7.45pm BST) and Croatia on Saturday 3 October 2026 (5pm BST).

Tuchel's team host Czechia on Tuesday 6 October (7.45pm BST) in the reverse fixture and Croatia on Thursday 12 November 2026 (7.45pm BST).

And England round off the league phase with an away game against Spain on Sunday 15 November 2026 (7.45pm BST).

Here, we take a closer look at the Three Lions' opponents.

Spain
Head coach: Luis de la Fuente
Last meeting: Spain 2-1 England, 14 July 2024, UEFA EURO 2024

The Three Lions came up against Spain in the EURO 2024 Final 18 months ago when the two nations last met, with La Roja going on to be crowned European champions in a 2-1 win in Berlin.

In this particular competition, England have history with Spain. Drawn in the same group in the 2018-19 edition, Gareth Southgate’s side were beaten 2-1 in the first match-up.

The following month, the Three Lions registered their first win in Spain since 1987 as Raheem Sterling bagged a brace and Marcus Rashford made the scoresheet in a 3-2 victory in Seville.

Notably, England beat Spain in the EURO 1996 quarter-final, progressing on penalties, while Gary Lineker put four past La Roja in a 4-2 win in 1987.

England and Spain have locked horns a total of 28 times, with the Three Lions winning 14 of those encounters, drawing three and losing eleven.

Croatia
Head coach: Zlatko Dalić
Last meeting: England 1-0 Croatia, 13 June 2021, UEFA EURO 2020

Having already been drawn in the same group as Croatia for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Three Lions will kick off their campaign this summer against their Nations League opponents in Dallas on Wednesday 17 June.

Similarly to Spain, England have faced Croatia in the Nations League, playing out a goalless draw in October 2018.

The Three Lions clinched a 2-1 win at Wembley in the reverse fixture to reach the semi-finals of the inaugural season. England came from behind as Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane struck late in the day.

England were also pitted against Croatia in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup, bowing out in extra time in Moscow.

And the two nations, who first went head-to-head back in 1996, last met in the summer of 2021 as the Three Lions ran out 1-0 winners in their EURO 2020 curtain-raiser.

Czechia
Head coach: Miroslav Koubek
Last meeting: Czechia 0-1 England, 22 June 2021, UEFA EURO 2020

A slender 1-0 win over Czechia at EURO 2020 saw England top Group D with Raheem Sterling’s first-half strike the difference in the last encounter between the two sides.

The Three Lions also came up against the Czechs en-route to the tournament. England put in a five-star performance in March 2019 as Sterling hit a hat-trick under the arch in a 5-0 triumph.

And although Southgate’s team were defeated 2-1 by Czechia in Prague, both teams went on to qualify.

The two nations have come face-to-face just five times, with England winning three of those games, drawing one and losing one.

The first meeting dates back to 1998 when Glenn Hoddle’s men were 2-0 winners in an international fixture at Wembley, with Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Ian Wright among the starters.