Spain, England, Croatia Drawn into Same UEFA Nations League Group

The defending European champions will face off against two World Cup semifinalists in the upcoming tournament.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The reigning European champions Spain were drawn into the same group as England and Croatia for the next edition of the UEFA Nations League. The three national teams, who have all reached recent World Cup semifinals, will face off against each other in the upcoming tournament.

Why it matters

The UEFA Nations League is a prestigious international competition that pits some of Europe's top national teams against each other. Having Spain, England, and Croatia in the same group ensures high-profile matchups and a competitive group stage, building anticipation for the tournament.

The details

Spain, the defending European champions, were drawn into Group A1 of the UEFA Nations League along with England and Croatia. All three teams have reached the semifinals of the World Cup in recent years, with England making the semis in 2018 and Croatia doing so in 2018. The three national teams will play each other in a round-robin format, with the group winner advancing to the Nations League Finals.

  • The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League group stage will take place in the fall of 2026.

The players

Spain

The reigning European champions, who won the 2024 UEFA European Championship.

England

A perennial contender that reached the 2018 World Cup semifinals.

Croatia

The 2018 World Cup finalist, who made the semifinals of that tournament.

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What they’re saying

“This is a very tough group, but one that will produce some excellent matches for fans to enjoy. Spain, England and Croatia are all top-level teams, so it's going to be an exciting competition.”

— Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President (UEFA.com)

What’s next

The full schedule for the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League group stage will be announced by UEFA in the coming months.

The takeaway

This UEFA Nations League group features three teams that have recently reached the World Cup semifinals, ensuring high-stakes, high-quality matches for fans to look forward to in the upcoming tournament.