Croatia will host England behind closed doors for their Nations League tie, stripping home advantage. Punters may lean toward an England away bet or a low-scoring market (under 3 goals) given the sterile atmosphere; bookmakers could shorten England odds and favour an away win or narrow-margin result.
UEFA Orders Croatia’s Home Match Against England to Be Played Behind Closed Doors
UEFA has confirmed Croatia will host England on Saturday 3 October 2026 behind closed doors as part of a two-game sanction in the Nations League for previous crowd trouble. No home supporters will be admitted for Croatia’s first home fixture, while Croatia are also barred from selling tickets to their fans for the designated away match.
Reason for the Sanction
The punishment follows incidents during Croatia’s Nations League quarter-final with France last year, when objects were thrown, pyrotechnics were used and crowd chanting led to disorder. UEFA cited those disturbances and previous issues dating back to Euro 2024 when imposing the fine and fan bans.
Impact on Supporters and Past Precedent
England fans have faced similar situations before. When Croatia were sanctioned in October 2018, the match in Rijeka was played without paying spectators and many England supporters gathered on a nearby hill to watch. That game set a precedent for fans still finding ways to follow the match despite stadium bans. In a separate instance, another host staged a match filled with schoolchildren to meet sanction conditions while maintaining a crowd presence.
Reaction from Fans
Some England supporters described the decision as unfair to travelling fans who had planned to attend. One lifelong England fan said it felt "grossly unfair" to be penalised for incidents they did not cause, recalling the difficulties of missing an anticipated away fixture.
Fixture Snapshot
Matchday 1: England v Spain — Saturday 26 September 2026, 19:45 BST
Matchday 2: Czechia v England — Tuesday 29 September 2026, 19:45 BST
Matchday 3: Croatia v England — Saturday 3 October 2026, 17:00 BST (behind closed doors)
Matchday 4: England v Czechia — Tuesday 6 October 2026, 19:45 BST
Matchday 5: England v Croatia — Thursday 12 November 2026, 19:45 GMT
Matchday 6: Spain v England — Sunday 15 November 2026, 19:45 GMT
Betting and Sporting Implications
The absence of Croatian fans reduces home advantage, which can shift market sentiment. Bookmakers may shorten England’s odds and bettors could favour an England win or a draw/away double chance.
The muted atmosphere also tends to suppress scoring, so under-goal markets are likely to attract interest from punters seeking lower-risk outcomes.
Wales to face Portugal, Denmark and Norway in Nations League
England fans will not be permitted to attend the Three Lions' UEFA Nations League clash in Croatia after UEFA handed a stadium ban to supporters of the home nation
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