Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner against England once again as Spain came from behind to win 3-2 in their Nations League opener.

2026/2027 UEFA Nations League

2-3

Match Report 

Lamine Yamal gave the world champions an early lead before Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane flipped the script before the break.

But after Kane missed a penalty, Spain rallied to earn three points in their first match since the World Cup final, with Alex Baena equalising before Oyarzabal securing the victory, just as he did in the Euro 2024 final.

Spain made the perfect start at Wembley, with Marc Guehi dispossessed as he turned back towards his own goal. Yamal picked his pocket and ruthlessly punished the mistake, turning his shot in off the inside of the far post just two minutes in.

Ferran Torres then saw a goal disallowed shortly after; Fabian Ruiz bent a lovely cross into the box, but the striker's diving header was ruled out for offside.

Ferran then saw two golden opportunities go begging, with James Trafford making himself big to smother a one-on-one shot, before firing wide from a similar position.

An exquisite Yamal backheel slipped in Dani Olmo, who fired wide from a tight angle, before Kane bent one wide at the other end in England's first clear-cut opener.

But England needed just four minutes to flip the game on its head. Nico Williams' slip opened the door for a pacy counter-attack, and Gordon played a one-two with Jude Bellingham before slotting it past Unai Simon from the edge of the box 36 minutes in.

And with Spain on the ropes, Kane met Nico O'Reilly's chipped cross after getting in front of Aymeric Laporte, and Marc Cucurella could only help it in off his thigh.

England started brightly after the break, with Bellingham winning a penalty after going down under Rodri's challenge. But Kane could not take advantage, smashing it against the crossbar after his standing foot slipped.

Spain made that reprieve count on the hour, with another helping hand from England. O'Reilly's loose pass went straight to Olmo, who picked out Baena to fire past Trafford.

And his fellow substitute secured the victory in the 74th minute; Baena cut open England's defence with his throughball and Oyarzabal lifted a lovely dink over Trafford when he rushed off his line. 

The #ThreeLions are narrowly defeated by the world champions at @WembleyStadium. pic.twitter.com/7Zx4Dx48ih

— England (@England) September 26, 2026

Spain find another gear after England put on some pressure

It was not all smooth sailing for Spain, with their lengthy unbeaten streak also coming under some pressure, but La Roja are now unbeaten in their last 39 matches in all competitions (W30 D9, in 90 minutes), extending the longest-ever such run by a European nation.

But they conceded two goals in the first half of an official match for the first time since October 2018, when they let in three at the Benito Villamarin against England, also in the Nations League.

Spain also conceded more goals in the first 45 minutes (two) than they did in the entirety of their World Cup-winning campaign (one).

While they had their wobbles, they made a stunning start, with Yamal scoring the third-quickest goal England have ever conceded at Wembley, while he is the youngest player to score against the Three Lions in a competitive match at the stadium in the last 20 years (19 years, 75 days).

It is a disappointing loss for England, but they made sure Spain knew they were in a fight.

The hosts had 12 shots, with four of those on target, though they only accumulated 1.51 expected goals (xG). Spain, by contrast, had 15 attempts worth 1.99 xG, with five on target.

England also caused their own problems, though, making two errors leading to goal in a competitive match for the first time since June 2019 against the Netherlands, also in the Nations League.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' GOAL! Lamine Yamal finishes brilliantly to take the lead! England 0-1 Spain



6' Gordon cuts it back from close to the byline but Unai Simon takes control of his area to gather!

7' Marc Cucurella wins a corner for Spain!

9' A lovely cross into the box and Ferran Torres taps home but he had just strayed offside!


14' A nice take from Gordon and a good-looking cross, too, but Saka is beaten to the ball by Cucurella!

24' Marc Pubill, making his first start for Spain, cleverly blocks the run of Anthony Gordon!

26' England pile the pressure on and Bellingham goes down on the edge of the area looking for the foul!

27' Yamal's sumptuous ball finds Torres and it looks like a simple finish but he drags wide of the post!

29' Quansah pings back in for Anderson to take the shot on but he can't quite connect with the volley!

30' Cubarsi steps across Lewis-Skelly, England are claiming for a penalty but there's nothing in that!

32' Saka gets round Cucurella and lifts one into the area, it's headed away for another England corner!

34' Yamal finds Olmo in the box but the finish isn't there and he drags his shot centimetres wide!

36' GOAL! Jude Bellingham drives forward and finds Anthony Gordon! England 1-1 Spain

38' England almost take the lead as Harry Kane bends one wide!

40' GOAL! Harry Kane makes Marc Cucurella score an own goal! England 2-1 Spain

60' GOAL! Nico O'Reilly gives the ball away and Alex Baena finishes it brilliantly! England 2-2 Spain

66' Bellingham shifts the ball across, Saka cuts in and bends towards the far corner but it's just wide!

67' Yellow Card! Nico O'Reilly booked

69' Yellow Card! Guehi booked

70' Anthony Gordon and Myles Lewis-Skelly make way for Morgan Rogers and James Garner!

74' GOAL! Oyarzabal waits for Trafford to go down and dinks it over his head! England 2-3 Spain

82' Dani Olmo is replaced by Mikel Merino!

89' Jarrad Branthwaite replaces Marc Guehi as we enter extra time!

Line-ups

England XI: Kane, Elliot Anderson, Ngoyo, Guehi, Gordon, Saka, James Trafford, Bellingham, Quansah, Nico O'Reilly, Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Steele, Pickford, Calvert-Lewin, Trevoh Chalobah, Alexander-Arnold, Gibbs-White, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, Garner, Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Hall, Alex Scott

Spain XI: Laporte, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Olmo, Rodri, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Marc Pubill, Yamal, Cubarsi

Subs: Grimaldo, David Raya, Merino, Oyarzabal, Josep Martínez, Martín Zubimendi, Álex Baena, Yeremy, Pedri, Fermín López, Dean Huijsen