England drawn with Euro champions Spain in Nations League A3 creates headline fixtures — punters may favor Spain to top the group and beat England given recent form; consider backing Spain for group winner or head-to-head, with Croatia offering upset potential and the Czech Republic as a value selection for points.
Nations League 2026-27: England Drawn With Spain, Croatia and Czech Republic in Group A3
England will meet reigning European champions Spain in Group A3 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, setting up a high-profile rematch after the nations contested the Euro 2024 final. Alongside Spain, England faces Croatia and the Czech Republic in a compact group of tough home-and-away fixtures.
Group A3: A heavyweight reunion
Spain and England renew rivalry after the Euro 2024 final, where Mikel Oyarzabal struck in the 86th minute to give Spain the title. That recent history raises stakes for both nations and frames Group A3 as one of the most closely watched blocks in League A. Croatia’s blend of experience and the Czech Republic’s resilience complete a group where margins will be fine.
Nations League draw — full list
League A Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czech Republic Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales
League B
Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia
Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland
Group B3: Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kosovo
Group B4: Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden
League C
Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino
Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Gibraltar/Latvia*
Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova
Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Malta/Luxembourg*
League D
Group D1: Gibraltar/Latvia*, Malta/Luxembourg*, Andorra
Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein
*Gibraltar will play Latvia, and Malta play Luxembourg in March play-offs to determine final league placings.
Schedule and knockout format
The league phase runs across September–November 2026 with six matchdays: Matchday 1 (Sept 24-26), Matchday 2 (Sept 27-29), Matchday 3 (Sept 30–Oct 3), Matchday 4 (Oct 4-6), Matchday 5 (Nov 12-14) and Matchday 6 (Nov 15-17). Quarter-finals and promotion/relegation play-offs are scheduled for March 25-30, 2027. The Nations League final tournament will be held June 9-13, 2027.
How the Nations League affects Euro 2028 qualifying
Beyond its own trophy, the Nations League provides a backdoor to Euro 2028: the best-performing teams in the Nations League that fail to qualify through the normal qualifying campaign will be placed into play-offs for remaining European Championship slots. That raises the tournament’s importance for mid-ranking nations and influences selection and tactical priorities for managers.
Betting and tactical implications
Spain’s recent success and psychological edge from Euro 2024 make them clear market favorites in head-to-heads and for the group win.
England will draw attention in early markets given the rivalry and the retrievable form swings under new management.
Croatia represents strong value for upset bets, while the Czech Republic could deliver points at attractive odds.
For punters: consider Spain to top the group or win vs England, extras markets (both teams to score) in tight fixtures, and look for early-value lines on Croatia and Czech Republic before markets tighten.
Capello claims Serie A title race wide open: ‘Inter & Juventus, watch out for Milan & Roma’
England last played Spain in the final of Euro 2024, with Spain winning 2-1 and lifting the trophy for a fourth time.
Theathleticuk
