England return to action for the first time since their run to third place at the 2026 World Cup when they host newly-crowned world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The clash marks the start of the 2026-27 Nations League campaign, with England and Spain drawn alongside Croatia and Czechia in Group A3.
Thomas Tuchel's side enjoyed their best World Cup finish since winning the competition in 1966 this summer, reaching the semifinals before losing 2-1 to Argentina and then beating France in the third-place playoff.
Spain went one better. Luis de la Fuente's side defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the final in New Jersey to claim their second title and arrive at Wembley for their first game since lifting the trophy in July.
Here's everything you need to know about the match:
How to watch:
The match will be available to watch on ITV 1 in the UK. It will be shown in Australia on BeIN Sports, in India on Sony Sports Network, and on BeIN Sports Connect in the U.S. Kickoff is at 7.45 p.m. BST. You can also follow ESPN's live updates here.
Key Details:
Date, kick-off time:
UK BST: Saturday, Sept. 26, 7.45 p.m.
U.S. ET: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2.45 p.m.
India IST: Sunday, Sept. 27, 12.15 a.m.
Australia AEST: Sunday, Sept. 27, 4.45 a.m.
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Referee: TBC
VAR: TBC
Injury and Team News
England
Thomas Tuchel's original squad has already been hit by a string of withdrawals, with five players from last Friday's list since ruled out through injury. James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White have been called up as replacements.
The squad still contains several changes from the World Cup, with Trent Alexander-Arnold back in the fold and Alex Scott among those selected.
Tino Livramento, D, injury: OUT
Kobbie Mainoo, M, injury: OUT
Cole Palmer, M, injury: OUT
Marcus Rashford, F, injury: OUT
Declan Rice, M, injury: OUT
Spain
Joan García, GK, knee: OUT
Pedro Porro, D, injury: OUT
Gavi, M, suspension: OUT
Expected lineups
England predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Jordan Pickford
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly
Elliot Anderson, Alex Scott
Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon
Harry Kane
Spain predicted XI (4-3-3)
Unai Simon
Marc Pubill, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella
Rodri, Pedri, Martin Zubimendi
Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena
Talking Points
Can England really be 'more like Spain'?
Thomas Tuchel has spent much of his England tenure wrestling with a question of identity. He wants his side to reflect the Premier League, with high-tempo, direct and physically demanding football, but England's World Cup semifinal defeat to Argentina exposed their difficulties controlling games when momentum turns against them.
When announcing his squad for this international break, Tuchel said he wants his side to be "for 10 minutes, a little bit more like Spain" -- that is, more like a team capable of starving opponents of the ball, controlling games through their technical quality and denying them momentum, something that took La Roja to World Cup glory.
There could hardly be a better test of that theory than the newly-crowned champions themselves. Luis de la Fuente's men arrive at Wembley as the benchmark for the sort of control Tuchel has discussed -- as fans at Wembley are treated to the final that could have been.
Will England be overrun without Rice?
Declan Rice's withdrawal leaves Tuchel with a significant problem ahead of a meeting with perhaps the best midfield in international football. Rice and Elliot Anderson formed England's first-choice midfield partnership at the World Cup, but with Rice ruled out through injury, the German must now decide who plays alongside the Manchester City midfielder against Spain.
Anderson will almost surely get the nod after establishing himself as a core member of the England team during the tournament, but he will need support against Spain's formidable midfield trio. With Mainoo also withdrawing from the squad, Tuchel's options include Jude Bellingham in a deeper role, Alex Scott, Myles Lewis-Skelly and the recalled James Garner.
Whoever gets the nod faces a daunting assignment. Spain's ability to dominate the ball and control the centre of the pitch was central to their World Cup triumph, and England can ill afford to leave Anderson isolated against that quality.
Spain begin life as world champions
De la Fuente has opted for continuity rather than renewal, retaining 22 members of his 26-man World Cup-winning squad as life after the tournament begins.
Espanyol striker Roberto Fernández is the standout newcomer after scoring six goals in his first six LaLiga games this season, while Fermín López and Dean Huijsen return after missing the tournament. Josep Martínez was called up following Joan García's injury, while Gavi, Borja Iglesias and the now internationally retired Marcos Llorente are also absent.
The challenge now is maintaining the extraordinary standards Spain have set themselves. Euro 2028 -- the final of which will be played at Wembley -- will be firmly in the head coach's mind. The first priority, though, will be winning a rematch of the Euro 2024 final before De la Fuente can turn to his wider squad for this length four-match run.
What do the numbers say?
England's meeting with Spain will be their first match since finishing third at the 2026 World Cup, their best finish in the competition since winning it in 1966
Luis de la Fuente retained 22 members of Spain's 26-man World Cup-winning squad for the opening Nations League round in the 2026-27 competition
Spain have won the Nations League, European Championship and World Cup under De la Fuente, lifting those trophies in 2023, 2024 and 2026 respectively
Spain won the most recent competitive meeting between the teams, beating England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final
England and Spain will meet again in the Nations League at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Nov. 15
Information from ESPN's Global Sports Research contributed to this story.