England vs Spain Standings: UEFA Nations League Group A3 After Matchday 1
By Galib | September 27, 2026 | Sports
Spain have moved to the top of UEFA Nations League Group A3 after beating England 3–2 at Wembley in the opening matchday of the 2026/27 competition.
England took the lead during the first half, but Spain recovered after the break and secured all three points through a late Mikel Oyarzabal goal.
UEFA Nations League Group A3 Standings
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Croatia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| 4 | Czechia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
Spain and Croatia both have three points after winning their opening matches, while England and Czechia remain without a point. The four teams make up Group A3 of League A.
England 2–3 Spain: What Happened?
Spain made a fast start at Wembley, with Lamine Yamal scoring inside the opening two minutes.
England responded through Anthony Gordon before Harry Kane put the hosts ahead before half-time. Spain then regained momentum in the second half, with Álex Baena restoring parity before Oyarzabal scored the decisive goal 16 minutes from time.
Kane also missed a penalty, hitting the crossbar, as England were unable to turn their first-half advantage into points.
Why the Standings Matter
The Nations League League A group stage contains four teams, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarter-finals. UEFA's 2026/27 format also includes promotion and relegation pathways between the leagues.
That means England still have five group matches remaining and plenty of opportunity to change their position.
What's Next for England?
England's next Group A3 match is away against Czechia on September 29. They will then travel to Croatia on October 3 before returning home to face Czechia on October 6.
Spain's next match is also on September 29, when they face Croatia. The result could affect the top of the Group A3 table after only two matchdays.
Group A3 Fixtures
Matchday 1
- Czechia 1–2 Croatia
- England 2–3 Spain
Matchday 2
- Czechia vs England
- Spain vs Croatia
Matchday 3
- Croatia vs England
- Spain vs Czechia
The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League league phase continues through November, with the quarter-finals scheduled for March 2027.
Key Takeaway
Spain currently sit first in Group A3 on three points, level with Croatia but ahead on the group table after Matchday 1. England are third following their 3–2 defeat to Spain, while Czechia are fourth after losing 2–1 to Croatia.
The next round of matches will give England and Czechia an opportunity to respond, while Spain and Croatia meet in a direct contest between the two teams currently on three points.
Source: UEFA Nations League, UEFA.com; Sky Sports; ESPN.
