The Spain national football team is kicking off its UEFA Nations League 2026-27 campaign as reigning world champions. They are heading into high-stakes matches against England and Croatia under head coach Luis de la Fuente. Following their historic World Cup victory in North America, where they defeated Argentina in July’s final in New Jersey, La Roja entered the group stage of the Nations League as tournament favorites.
The squad completed final preparations at the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rosas, Madrid, before traveling to London for their opening Group 3, League A fixture at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Prior to their departure, minor injury concerns were resolved when defender Marc Pubill rejoined the main group for full training. The Atletico defender had missed part of a practice session due to foot blisters, but returned to complete the final workout without issues, leaving De la Fuente with a fully available 26-man squad.
Retaining World Cup Core While Welcoming New Faces
Head coach Luis de la Fuente has named his first squad since leading La Roja to the global title. He retained much of Spain’s World Cup-winning core while introducing targeted changes. Key figures such as Rodri, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Ferran Torres, and Mikel Oyarzabal are all included in the setup.
The roster also marks the return of several notable names. Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen returns after missing out on the World Cup squad, and Barcelona midfielder Fermín López is back after recovering from the injury that sidelined him for the tournament. Additionally, Inter Milan goalkeeper Josep Martínez has been called up following Joan García’s injury, while Espanyol forward Roberto Fernández and Iván Fresneda earned deserved call-ups following strong domestic starts.
Notable absences include Marcos Llorente, who recently retired from international football, alongside midfielder Gavi and forward Borja Iglesias, who were left out of this international window.
A Demanding Schedule in the Nations League
Spain faces an intense period, playing four UEFA Nations League matches in just 11 days. After their opening clash against Thomas Tuchel’s England side at Wembley, La Roja will host Croatia in Seville on September 29, take on the Czech Republic in Oviedo on October 3, and travel to Split to face Croatia again on October 6.
Midfielder Fabián Ruiz emphasized that the squad is fully focused on maintaining their elite standards rather than resting on past accomplishments. Speaking to Spanish daily AS, Ruiz noted: “The manager has already told us that the past is forgotten; it’s history, and that’s wonderful, but now it’s time to focus on the present. The hardest thing in football is winning again.”
With an extraordinary 38-match unbeaten run across all competitions-the longest-ever streak by a European nation-Spain aims to extend its continental dominance. They hope to secure a spot in another Nations League final four under De la Fuente, whose contract extension keeps him at the helm through 2032.
