Published: September 26, 2026
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST at Wembley
- Live in the UK on ITV1 and streaming on ITVX
- Tuchel’s England face de la Fuente’s Spain in the A3 opener
England are straight back into the fire with a glamour Nations League curtain-raiser at Wembley, welcoming the world and European champions, Spain, for their first meeting since that Euro 2024 heartache. It’s a real temperature check for Thomas Tuchel’s side against Luis de la Fuente’s slick operators.
If you’re weighing up the form and fancy a flutter, our best football betting sites guide is a handy starting point. On the pitch, expect a heavyweight subplot: Harry Kane leading the line for England against Spain’s teen sensation Lamine Yamal — both firmly in the Ballon d’Or conversation after sparkling seasons.
When and Where to Watch
The match kicks off on Saturday 26 September at 7.45pm BST at Wembley Stadium. UK viewers can watch live on ITV1 with streaming via ITVX. It’s the UEFA Nations League Group A3 opener, with Croatia and Czech Republic also on the slate this international window. The top two progress to the quarter-finals, so early points are priceless.
Team News and Predicted XIs
Tuchel’s prep has been rocked by injuries. Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Tino Livramento, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have all withdrawn, while Reece James and John Stones were unavailable for selection. Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner are drafted in, and England’s midfield chemistry becomes a key question without Rice’s ballast. Watch for Jude Bellingham linking with Kane — that axis must hum.
Spain, meanwhile, are without Pedro Porro and Joan Garcia, and have seen Marcos Llorente step away from international duty. De la Fuente has penned a long-term deal through 2032, and you can see why: Spain’s control through Rodri and Pedri is the gold standard, while Yamal and Nico Williams bring jet fuel out wide.
Predicted England XI: Pickford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Scott; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Predicted Spain XI: Simon; E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, N. Williams; Oyarzabal.
Bottom line? England must be braver in possession and cut off Rodri’s supply lines. If the back line handles Spain’s rotation and Kane gets service early, Wembley could roar the Three Lions to a statement start.
Bio:
Football fanatic, you will often find me on the terraces at lower league matches on a Saturday afternoon. I leave the Premier League matches to the prawn sandwich brigade; grassroots football for me all the way.
Key contributions:
As the lead copywriter, it’s my job to turn my colleagues’ “messy notes” (sorry, guys!) into clear, engaging content. From bookmaker reviews to betting predictions, I make sure everything is polished, accurate, and easy to read
Personnel betting philosophy or quotes:
“Great content, like great football, is all about the fundamentals”
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