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England vs Spain brings the 2026 World Cup bronze medallists together with the newly crowned world champions at Wembley. England have scored freely in recent matches, but Spain arrive with five straight wins and a much tighter defensive record. Our early call is a narrow Spain victory, although the hosts have enough attacking quality to make it a close game.
Key Summary: England Vs Spain
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England and Spain will meet twice in League A Group A3: first at Wembley on 26 September, then at the Metropolitano in Madrid on 15 November for their final group fixture. Croatia and Czechia complete the group, with the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals. The Wembley match opens the campaign, while the return fixture could affect the final standings. For more on the competition, see our UEFA Nations league betting guide.
England form and squad news
England arrived at Wembley after a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, with four wins in their last five matches. Their attack has delivered, but recent defensive results and several squad withdrawals raise questions ahead of the Spain game.
England’s recent form
Thomas Tuchel’s England finished third at the 2026 World Cup, recovering from a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina with an extraordinary 6-4 win over France. Four victories in their last five games underline their attacking threat. The concern is at the other end: they conceded in each of those five matches, a pattern Spain’s forwards will hope to exploit.
England’s last five matches
| Date | World Cup stage | Opponent | England result |
| 18 Jul 2026 | Third-place match | France | Won 6-4 |
| 15 Jul 2026 | Semi-final | Argentina | Lost 1-2 |
| 11 Jul 2026 | Quarter-final | Norway | Won 2-1 after extra time |
| 6 Jul 2026 | Round of 16 | Mexico | Won 3-2 |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Round of 32 | DR Congo | Won 2-1 |
The Mexico match was played on 5 July local time but appears as 6 July on the FA’s UK-time results page. The table follows the FA’s date convention throughout.
England squad and team news
Tuchel originally selected 27 players. Five injury withdrawals, followed by two replacement call-ups, leave a 24-man squad, not a 22-man one. Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento are out; James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White have joined the group.
- Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele, James Trafford.
- Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guéhi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah.
- Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Morgan Gibbs-White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Alex Scott.
- Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka.
Rice’s absence changes the midfield balance, while Palmer’s withdrawal removes another creative option. Kane, Saka and Bellingham remain available in the announced squad. Lewis Hall has been reported as a fitness doubt; his participation and any projected starting XI should be checked against the official teamsheet before kick-off.
Spain’s Form and Squad News
Spain travel to Wembley with a settled style of play and several ways to create chances in the final third. Here is a closer look at their recent results, available squad and the selection decisions facing Luis de la Fuente.
Spain’s recent form
Luis de la Fuente brings Spain to London after their 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final. They also won EURO 2024 and have carried a largely familiar group into this international window. Five wins in their last five matches, including four clean sheets, give them a strong case as favourites, though Wembley presents a different challenge.
Spain’s last five matches
| Date | World Cup stage | Opponent | Spain result |
| 19 Jul 2026 | Final | Argentina | Won 1-0 after extra time |
| 14 Jul 2026 | Semi-final | France | Won 2-0 |
| 10 Jul 2026 | Quarter-final | Belgium | Won 2-1 |
| 6 Jul 2026 | Round of 16 | Portugal | Won 1-0 |
| 2 Jul 2026 | Round of 32 | Austria | Won 3-0 |
Spain scored nine and conceded once across those five knockout matches. That does not guarantee another shutout, but it helps explain why an England scoring bet and a Spain win bet carry different levels of risk.
Spain squad and team news
De la Fuente initially named 26 players. Joan García was unavailable, with Josep Martínez selected; Pedro Porro subsequently withdrew through injury and Iván Fresneda stepped up from the under-21s. The updated group below uses the announced squad and that change, rather than the incomplete list supplied in the brief.
- Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, David Raya, Josep Martínez.
- Defenders: Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella, Dean Huijsen, Iván Fresneda.
- Midfielders: Rodri, Pedri, Fermín López, Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Fabián Ruiz, Álex Baena.
- Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Mikel Oyarzabal, Víctor Muñoz, Roberto Fernández.
Yamal offers a direct threat from the right, while Oyarzabal and Torres are competing attacking options. Torres scored the World Cup final winner and has been in strong club form, but neither his selection nor his role is confirmed for this match. Check the final lineup before considering any player market.
England vs Spain Head-to-Head records
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
| 14 Jul 2024 | EURO final | Berlin | Spain 2-1 England |
| 15 Oct 2018 | UEFA Nations League | Seville | Spain 2-3 England |
| 8 Sep 2018 | UEFA Nations League | London | England 1-2 Spain |
| 15 Nov 2016 | Friendly | London | England 2-2 Spain |
| 13 Nov 2015 | Friendly | Alicante | Spain 2-0 England |
| 12 Nov 2011 | Friendly | London | England 1-0 Spain |
| 11 Feb 2009 | Friendly | Seville | Spain 2-0 England |
| 7 Feb 2007 | Friendly | Manchester | England 0-1 Spain |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Friendly | Madrid | Spain 1-0 England |
| 28 Feb 2001 | Friendly | Birmingham | England 3-0 Spain |
Spain have won six of the teams’ ten meetings since 2000, England three, with one draw. Their latest meeting was the EURO 2024 final, settled by a late Mikel Oyarzabal goal. These results explain why Spain entered this rematch with a historical edge, but the sample spans different coaches and generations. Recent form and current availability deserve more weight than old friendlies when assessing Saturday’s contest.
Spain won two of the four meetings on English soil shown here; England won one and drew one. The 2018 Seville game was a 3-2 England win, not a Spain win. These ten fixtures are a defined modern sample, not the all-time head-to-head record. You can also compare prices for other group fixtures on our UEFA nations league Odds page.
Who will win England vs Spain: Predictions
Recent results and past meetings point to a close contest, but they do not tell the whole story. This prediction weighs England’s attacking form and home advantage against Spain’s defensive record and the players available to each side.
What recent results suggest
England’s 14 goals in their last five matches show why Spain cannot focus solely on controlling possession. Thomas Tuchel’s side scored six against France in the World Cup third-place match and found the net in every game across that five-match run. The concern is that England also conceded ten goals and kept no clean sheets.
Spain presents a different test. They won their last five matches while conceding only once. With Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo unavailable, England may find it harder to disrupt Spain’s midfield or protect their defence when possession changes hands. England can score, but limiting Spain’s chances looks more difficult.
What the head-to-head suggests
Spain have won six of the teams’ ten meetings since 2000, including the most recent encounter: a 2-1 victory in the EURO 2024 final. They also won 2-1 at Wembley in 2018, so playing in London has not always given England the advantage.
Yet the record is not entirely one-sided. England beat Spain 3-2 in Seville later in 2018, showing they can create chances against this opponent. The 2024 final was close, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the winner in the 86th minute. These meetings point to another competitive match, but older results cannot account for current squads or form.
Final result and score prediction
Prediction: Spain to win 2-1. England’s recent scoring record and Wembley advantage give them a realistic chance of finding the net. Spain, however, arrive with five consecutive wins, four clean sheets in those matches and a midfield that may benefit from England missing Rice and Mainoo. A narrow away win is therefore the stronger call, rather than a comfortable Spain victory.
A 1-1 draw is the main alternative if England stay compact, restrict space around their penalty area and take one of their chances. The predicted score describes one plausible outcome over 90 minutes; neither recent form nor head-to-head results make it certain.
England vs Spain odds and betting tips
The market gives Spain a slight edge, but the prices leave room for a close match. Start with the 90-minute win, draw and loss odds below, then consider the separate betting angles alongside the prediction. Check current prices before making any decision.
England vs Spain odds
The Football odds below show an indicative snapshot of the 90-minute win, draw and loss market for England vs Spain. They are not live prices and may change before kick-off. Check the current odds and terms with a licensed operator before placing a bet.
| 90-minute outcome | Reported fractional odds | Decimal equivalent |
| England win | 7/4 | 2.75 |
| Draw | 5/2 | 3.50 |
| Spain win | 6/4 | 2.50 |
The England vs Spain odds make Spain a modest favourite, not an overwhelming one. Fractional and decimal figures in this table express the same prices. The betting ideas below are separate alternatives, not a suggested accumulator; no value claim can be made without checking the price actually available to you.
Betting Tips & What these betting tips cover
New to these markets? Read our how to bet on football guide before choosing a bet. These seven picks cover match results, total goals and individual player performances. Each explains what needs to happen for the bet to win and why it fits the prediction. They are alternatives to consider, not a combined bet or a guarantee. Check the confirmed lineups, current odds and bookmaker rules before choosing a market.
1. Spain draw no bet
A Spain draw-no-bet selection wins if Spain wins in regulation time and returns the stake if the match ends level. It loses if England wins. This is the clearest cautious expression of our Spain lean: their five-match winning run and England’s missing midfielders support the away side, while the refund protects against the plausible 1-1 draw. Check the quoted price before judging whether it is worthwhile.
2. Both teams to score: Yes
This market needs England and Spain to score at least once each in the 90 minutes. England scored in all five of their most recent games but conceded in all five too. Spain’s defence was much stronger over the same stretch, so a home goal is not inevitable. Kane and Saka give the hosts a route to one, making this a possible match narrative rather than a certainty.
3. Over 2.5 total goals
Over 2.5 goals wins if there are at least three goals in regulation time, including a 2-1 Spain result. It fits England’s recent high-scoring matches and the predicted score, but Spain’s four clean sheets in their last five games argue for caution. An early goal could open the match; a controlled Spain possession game could do the opposite. Do not treat this pick as independent of the score forecast.
4. Correct score: Spain 2-1
A correct-score bet requires exactly a 2-1 Spain win at the end of normal time, so it is far narrower than simply backing Spain. It matches our primary forecast and the score of the 2024 final, but a 1-1 draw or a 1-0 away win would lose. Consider it only as a small, higher-variance alternative, not proof that past scorelines will repeat.
5. Mikel Oyarzabal anytime goalscorer
This wins if Oyarzabal scores at any point in regulation time, provided the bookmaker settles the market under its stated rules. He scored Spain’s late winner against England in the EURO 2024 final, which makes him a natural player to watch, not an automatic scorer here. His minutes and starting role matter more than that historical goal. Wait for team news and compare his price with other Spain forwards.
6. Harry Kane to record a shot on target
A Kane over 0.5 shots-on-target bet needs one attempt credited as on target by the market’s statistics provider during regulation time. England’s captain remains the focal point of their attack, and UEFA highlighted his recent club scoring milestone. Spain’s defence may limit his opportunities, however. Confirm that he starts and read the operator’s shot-counting and substitute rules before placing this player-specific bet.
7. Lamine Yamal to record a shot
Yamal over 0.5 shots requires one recorded attempt, whether or not it tests the goalkeeper, if that is how the bookmaker defines a shot. His right-sided attacking role could create an opportunity against England’s left flank, particularly if Lewis Hall is unavailable. This is a more straightforward condition than an assist, which depends on a teammate finishing the chance. Check the teamsheet and the provider’s market definition first.
Player spotlight: Oyarzabal is the Spain attacker most closely tied to this fixture because of his EURO 2024 winner. That is an editorial player-to-watch choice, not a claim that a player-of-the-match betting market is available.
Responsible gambling notice
No prediction or betting tip guarantees a return. Set a spending limit you can afford to lose, avoid chasing losses and never bet because a result feels certain. Gamble only if you meet the legal age requirement and betting is permitted where you live. If gambling is causing harm, stop and seek support.
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Final verdict
Can the Three Lions win? Yes, particularly if Kane and the supporting attack turn Wembley pressure into an early lead. Our England vs Spain call nevertheless favours a 2-1 Spain win because the visitors arrive with the stronger recent defensive record. Recheck the confirmed lineups and live prices before acting on any pick, and treat the prediction as analysis rather than a guarantee.
