National Team

Life After the World Cup Begins at Wembley

Spain will begin its reign as world champions against England in the opening match of the Nations League this Saturday, 26 September, at 20:45 (Spanish mainland time)

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Sat, 26/09/2026 - 10:17

The Spanish national team returns to action this Saturday, 26 September, at Wembley. And it does so in very different circumstances from the last time: with two stars on its chest, as world champions and once again sitting at the top of the FIFA ranking. Just over two months after winning its second World Cup in New Jersey, the national team begins a new campaign against England, in one of football’s most imposing venues and against a side that also reached the last four of the latest World Cup.

England - Spain, 20:45 (Spanish mainland time), live on La 1 de TVE

The schedule has dictated that the champions’ return should take place at Wembley. England, World Cup semi-finalists in 2026, await on the other side. And they are no ordinary opponent. They are the team Spain defeated in the 2024 European Championship final in Berlin, the same side that now crosses paths with Luis de la Fuente’s team again in the opening chapter of a new UEFA Nations League campaign. The venue, the opponent and the timing make this more than just another opening match of the season.

28 matches played between the two teams: 11 Spain wins, 3 draws and 14 defeats

The 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final restored Spain’s world crown sixteen years after South Africa and made the national team two-time world champions. It was also Luis de la Fuente’s third major title at the helm, following the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship. Now, however, it is time to start again.

Wembley marks the starting point of a new edition of the UEFA Nations League. The last time Spain visited this iconic stadium, they came away with a 1-2 victory in the same competition, back in 2018. The Nations League also holds particularly fond memories for the Spanish coach, as it was his first title with the senior national team in 2023. Since then, the European Championship and the World Cup have joined his honours list, completing a remarkable three-title run that makes Saturday’s match even more special and high-profile. Spain now enters the campaign as the team every other national side will be looking to beat.