England host Spain at Wembley this evening as they kick off their Nations League campaign with a difficult clash against the world champions.
Thomas Tuchel’s side finished third in the World Cup this summer having been beaten in the semi-final stage by Argentina whilst Spain took the title having defeated the same opponent in the final. Questions were raised over the manner of England’s defeat to Argentina and Tuchel will be keen to show that his team have the ability to win against top tier opposition.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has signed a contract to extend his spell as head coach until at least 2032, while the spotlight is on Tuchel to show he can impose his tactical impressions on the team.
The top two teams in a Nations League group progress to the quarter-finals and a victory over Spain would put England in the driving seat for the rest of their group stage campaign.
Follow all the action from the Nations League as England take on Spain below:
England vs Spain live
- England host Spain in the Nations League | Kick off at 7.45pm, live on ITV1
- Thomas Tuchel has realised England’s ultimate challenge and only Spain have the answer
- Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, and Tino Livramento all dropped out of squad
'Feeling as good as ever'
17:54 , Alan Smith
“I'm happy, I'm enjoying my football,” Rogers said of his own start to the new campaign. “I'm feeling as good as I've ever felt playing, contributing, scoring goals, assists, creating chances. I'm loving it. It's been challenging at times, obviously a good start and then tailored off a bit at the end, which is disappointing. But that’s football, and I just can’t wait to get going and keep going and keep pushing myself and keep trying to improve.”
Rogers defends Palmer decision
17:48 , Lawrence Ostlere
While Tuchel was speaking at Spurs, Morgan Rogers was upstairs defending his close friend and Chelsea teammate. “Unfortunately he couldn’t be here, but I think he’s got to focus on his body after what he went through last year,” Rogers told a huddle of journalists. “He needs to be in a good physical state and that obviously comes first as players. You want to be in the best fighting-fit shape if you can.”
Does Rogers miss his best mate in football, the player he roomed with for so many years playing together in England’s youth teams, and now his partner in crime at Stamford Bridge?
“Nah, I'm all right having the break from him, to be honest,” Rogers smiled. “Being around him 24/7 can be quite tough, so having the break’s quite nice. But of course, I love playing with Cole. I love being around him … I’m disappointed he’s not here, obviously, from a selfish point of view. But I know it’ll do him the greater good moving forward, that we can get the best version of him throughout the whole season and in an England shirt moving forward.
“I think as a nation you want Cole Palmer and players like that in an English shirt, but it’s not always possible with the games and what we’ve got coming up. You have to manage yourself, especially after what he went through last year, he doesn’t want to go through that again. So he’s made a decision for himself to look after his body.”
Where is Cole Palmer?
17:42 , Lawrence Ostlere
England have been based at Tottenham’s training complex in London this week, and on Friday the building was the scene of a flurry of media activity. There were questions about Saturday night’s opponents Spain, questions about English identity, questions about how players get over the heartache of losing to Argentina. But the most emotive was not really about football at all: where is Cole Palmer?
The answer was in the Caribbean, with a personal rehab coach to work on his fitness. Palmer’s decision to pull out of this three-week, four-game England camp was put down to “load management” after a campaign disrupted by injury last season. It clearly irked England manager Thomas Tuchel.
“He misses too many opportunities,” said Tuchel. “I don’t blame him for it. It is just a fact. He misses way too many camps with injuries. I only want to rely on what I witness and see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp.”
Morgan Rogers: ‘I’m disappointed Palmer’s not here but he’s looking after his body’
The final twist in a bitter Ballon d’Or race
17:36 , Lawrence Ostlere
Voting for the Ballon d’Or closes next week, and by a quirk of the fixture list it just so happens that the two favourites for the award meet at Wembley on Saturday night. England’s brave bronze men take on Spain’s World Cup winners, and beyond the chance to take charge of 2026/27 Uefa Nations League 1C, the game offers Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal one last opportunity to woo swing voters.
Welcome to the Ballon d’Or 2026, a world of allegiance and betrayal, of politics and legacy, like Succession meets Real Housewives. The award has become more tribal than ever, contested by such fragile egos that nobody can say what they really think. Players now launch full-blown PR campaigns, and at this point we are really only one step away from direct canvassing, from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia knocking on Henry Winter’s door with a pamphlet titled “A Vote For Kvara Is A Vote For Change”.
Kane v Yamal at Wembley is the final twist in a bitter Ballon d’Or race
‘The aura has gone’: Inside Thomas Tuchel’s fight to prevent England mutiny
17:30 , Mike Jones
With England players now said to feel the way they went out of the World Cup will be ‘talked about in 30 years’, the danger for Tuchel is that he doesn't have the same ‘respect’ in the dressing room, writes Miguel Delaney in his latest Inside Football newsletter:
‘The aura has gone’: Inside Thomas Tuchel’s fight to prevent England mutiny
Spain's early team news
17:24 , Mike Jones
Spain are missing Pedro Porro and Joan Garcia, while Marcos Llorente has retired from the international game.
Predicted Spain XI: Simon; E Garcia, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, N Williams; Oyarzabal
England's early team news
17:18 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel has seen a raft of withdrawals from his squad, with Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Tino Livramento, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo all pulling out injured, while the likes of Reece James and John Stones were unavailable for selection anyway due to injury.
Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner have been called up as replacements.
Predicted England XI: Pickford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Scott; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
How can I watch it?
17:12 , Mike Jones
England v Spain will be broadcast ITV1 and viewers in the United Kingdom can stream the game on ITVX.
Coverage begins at 6.45pm.
When is England v Spain?
17:06 , Mike Jones
England face Spain at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 26 September, with kick-off at 7.45pm BST.
England vs Spain
17:00 , Mike Jones
England return to action for the first time since heartbreak in the World Cup semi-finals and their subsequent victory in the third-place play-off, as they face Spain in the opening fixture of this season’s Nations League.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have been given a tough task in their Nations League A3 group opener, against the world and European champions, with this the two sides’ first meeting since the Euro 2024 final - another crushing loss for the Three Lions.
Luis de la Fuente has signed a contract to extend his spell as Spain head coach until at least 2032, while Tuchel remains at the helm of England despite an inquest into their World Cup disappointment, and all eyes will be on his side as they look to bounce back.
The Wembley clash will also see two of the contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or go head-to-head, as England captain Harry Kane goes up against Spain’s star forward Lamine Yamal. Kane scored an incredible 73 goals for club and country last season.
Good afternoon!
14:17 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of England’s Nations League opener against world and European champions Spain.
It’s the start of the next stage of the Thomas Tuchel era as the manager aims to build-up on England’s third place at the World Cup this summer.
In this match, England’s first since that tournament, the Three Lions face a difficult test tonight at Wembley but it is one they will relish.
Tuchel needs to prove his team can compete with the best teams in the world and a victory over Spain would show they have the ability to win silverware.
We’ll have all the latest news, updates and line-ups from Wembley as we build-up to kick off at 7.45pm.
