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Spain vs Croatia: Nations League Match Preview, Kick-Off Time, H2H and What to Know
Spain face Croatia in Seville in the second round of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, with both teams arriving on three points after winning their opening matches. The fixture brings together two familiar European opponents and comes shortly after Spain’s 3-2 victory over England and Croatia’s 2-1 win away to Czechia.
The match is scheduled for 20:45 Spanish time at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. It is Spain’s first home game since becoming world champions and the first meeting between the senior sides since Spain’s 3-0 victory over Croatia at UEFA EURO 2024.
Spain vs Croatia: match details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | UEFA Nations League 2026/27 |
| League | League A |
| Group | A3 |
| Match | Spain vs Croatia |
| Date | 29 September |
| Kick-off | 20:45 Spanish time |
| Stadium | Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Seville |
| Spain coach | Luis de la Fuente |
| Croatia coach | Slaven Bilić |
UEFA’s official schedule lists Spain-Croatia as a Group A3 fixture and confirms that the reverse meeting will take place in Split on 6 October.
How Spain and Croatia reached this match
Both teams began the Nations League with victories.
Spain opened its campaign at Wembley and beat England 3-2. UEFA records the result as one of the headline outcomes of the opening matchday, while the RFEF confirmed that Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal scored for Spain.
Croatia, meanwhile, travelled to Prague and defeated Czechia 2-1. The result gave Slaven Bilić’s side three points before the trip to Seville.
That leaves Spain and Croatia level on three points before their meeting, with Czechia and England also competing in Group A3. The other group fixture on this matchday is Czechia vs England.
Spain’s opening result
England 2-3 Spain
Spain recovered from an eventful match at Wembley to begin the new Nations League campaign with a victory. The result also continued a positive competitive run for Luis de la Fuente’s team following its World Cup triumph.
Croatia’s opening result
Czechia 1-2 Croatia
Croatia also started with an away win, overcoming Czechia in Prague. UEFA’s fixture list confirms the score and places Croatia alongside Spain at the top of Group A3 after the opening round.
Spain vs Croatia head-to-head record
Spain and Croatia have met regularly in major European competition and the Nations League. Their most recent meeting before this Nations League campaign came at EURO 2024, when Spain won 3-0 in Berlin.
Álvaro Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored in the first half of that match. Unai Simón also saved a Bruno Petković penalty in the second half.
UEFA’s historical match information records the overall head-to-head entering that EURO meeting as three Spain wins, one draw and one Croatia win, with Spain having scored 10 goals to Croatia’s five in those five listed meetings.
The rivalry has also produced a Nations League final: Spain defeated Croatia on penalties in the 2023 final after a 0-0 draw following extra time. Dani Carvajal converted Spain’s decisive penalty.
Recent Spain-Croatia meetings
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2024 | EURO 2024 | Spain 3-0 Croatia |
| 18 June 2023 | UEFA Nations League final | Croatia 0-0 Spain, Spain won on penalties |
| 15 November 2018 | UEFA Nations League | Croatia 3-2 Spain |
| 21 June 2016 | EURO 2016 | Croatia 2-1 Spain |
| 7 June 2006 | Friendly | Spain 2-1 Croatia |
The sequence illustrates why this fixture has become a familiar European matchup: the teams have encountered each other at both the European Championship and Nations League level.
Spain’s first home match as world champions
The Seville fixture carries particular significance for the Spanish national team because it is the first home match since Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The RFEF says Seville is the first Spanish city to host the newly crowned world champions and that the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán will welcome the national team for the first time since a 2015 European Championship qualifier against Ukraine.
Spain’s latest squad announcement also confirms that Luis de la Fuente selected 26 players for the opening Nations League commitments, with the Croatia match forming the second game of the campaign.
The RFEF’s match information lists 23 players for the Spain-Croatia fixture, including David Raya, Dean Huijsen, Alejandro Grimaldo, Pau Cubarsí, Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal.
What to watch in Spain vs Croatia
Spain’s attacking options
Spain arrive after scoring three times against England. Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal were among the scorers at Wembley, while Álex Baena also found the net.
The attacking depth available to De la Fuente is one of the major features of this Spain side. The squad list includes Yamal, Nico Williams, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Oyarzabal, Fermín López and Víctor Muñoz among the forwards and attacking players.
Croatia’s experience
Croatia continue to rely on a mixture of established international experience and younger players. Luka Modrić remains one of the central figures in the team, while the victory over Czechia gave the side an early three points in Group A3.
That experience is particularly relevant against Spain, who have previously faced Croatia in high-pressure European Championship and Nations League matches.
The midfield battle
The middle of the pitch could again be decisive. Spain’s squad contains Rodri, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi, while Croatia’s recent teams have traditionally built around technically strong midfielders.
Spain’s ability to control possession against Croatia will therefore be one of the key tactical questions, particularly if Croatia can disrupt the first phase of Spain’s build-up and create transitions.
Where to watch Spain vs Croatia
The RFEF announced that Spain vs Croatia will be broadcast in Spain on La 1 de TVE, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45 Spanish peninsular time.
For viewers outside Spain, broadcast arrangements depend on the local UEFA Nations League rights holder.
What comes next for Spain and Croatia?
The Nations League schedule moves quickly after this meeting.
Spain will host Czechia on 3 October before travelling to Croatia for the return fixture on 6 October. Croatia will host England on 3 October before welcoming Spain to Split three days later.
The reverse fixture could therefore provide a quick second chapter to this matchup, with only one week separating the two meetings.
Our analysis
Spain and Croatia enter the match with identical records after the opening round, but their first victories came in different circumstances: Spain won a high-scoring contest at Wembley, while Croatia secured a narrower away victory in Prague.
The most relevant immediate storyline is therefore not simply the teams’ long history. It is whether either side can turn its opening three points into an early advantage in Group A3.
For Spain, the Seville match also marks the beginning of a new phase in front of a home crowd after the World Cup triumph. For Croatia, it is an opportunity to build on an away victory against Czechia and take points from another difficult Group A3 opponent.
The result will also shape the context of the return fixture in Split on 6 October, making this a particularly significant stretch of the Nations League schedule.
FAQ
When is Spain vs Croatia?
Spain vs Croatia is scheduled for 29 September at 20:45 Spanish peninsular time.
Where is Spain vs Croatia being played?
The match is being played at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in Seville.
What competition is Spain vs Croatia in?
The game is part of the UEFA Nations League 2026/27, League A, Group A3.
How did Spain and Croatia start the Nations League?
Spain beat England 3-2 at Wembley, while Croatia defeated Czechia 2-1 in Prague.
When is Croatia vs Spain?
The return Nations League fixture is scheduled for 6 October in Split, Croatia.
Official Sources
- UEFA — 2026/27 UEFA Nations League: All the league phase fixtures and results — UEFA official fixture and results page
- UEFA — Spain: UEFA Nations League team page — UEFA Spain team page
- UEFA — Spain 3-0 Croatia: Impressive La Roja make convincing statement — UEFA EURO 2024 match report
- UEFA — Spain vs Croatia match information, EURO 2024 — UEFA match page
- RFEF — The Champions Play at Home, in Seville — RFEF official match preview
- RFEF — These are the shirt numbers for Spain-Croatia — RFEF squad information
- RFEF — The two stars will shine with a special colour — RFEF broadcast and match information
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