The celebrations from Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph have barely settled, and already Luis de la Fuente's side has a new campaign to prepare for. La Roja will open its UEFA Nations League defense with a schedule that offers no room for a soft landing, pitting the newly crowned world champions against England, Croatia and Czechia inside a two-week window.
Spain's first assignment as world champion could hardly be tougher: a trip to Wembley Stadium on September 26 to face England, a fixture that has taken on real edge in recent years given the two sides' growing rivalry at major tournaments. While national federations across Europe finalize their own squad plans and coaching set-ups, similar rebuilding stories are playing out elsewhere in football, including in South Africa, where reports on the latest orlando pirates transfer business have added another layer of intrigue to the domestic season there. For Spain, though, the focus is squarely on proving its North American success was built to last.
A Historic Homecoming in Seville
Three days after Wembley, on September 29, Spain will play its first home match since winning the World Cup, hosting Croatia at Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The national team last appeared at the Seville venue in March 2015, defeating Ukraine 1-0. This time, the occasion carries far greater weight, with supporters set to welcome home a squad now recognized as the best in the world.
The Nations League campaign continues on October 3 in Oviedo, where Spain hosts Czechia at Nuevo Carlos Tartiere, a stadium it last visited in 2015 during a 2-0 qualifying win over Slovakia ahead of that year's European Championship. The window then closes on October 6 with a second meeting against Croatia, rounding off a demanding four-match sequence before the group resumes in November against Czechia and England to complete all six Group A3 matchdays.
Unfinished Business in the Nations League
De la Fuente's reign has already delivered the 2022-23 Nations League and Euro 2024, alongside now the World Cup itself, making this one of the most successful eras in Spanish football history. Yet the Nations League remains a point of unfinished business: Spain failed to defend its title in the most recent edition, falling to Portugal on penalties in the final. Reclaiming that trophy would complete a remarkable collection and reinforce Spain's status as the dominant force in the international game.
