Who are England playing during the international break? Squad changes and opponents
Tom Hancock
England return to action this weekend for the first time since finishing third at the 2026 World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions face four Nations League fixtures during the newly extended international break, which runs until early October.
Here’s all you need to know about England’s much-changed squad and their upcoming opponents.
Who is in the England squad?
Tuchel named his first post-World Cup squad last week, and it featured plenty of changes from the group that went to this summer’s tournament.
Following a clutch of withdrawals, 10 players who weren’t selected for the World Cup are in the squad for these Nations League games.
They include two uncapped players: Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele (who was at the World Cup as an extra training ‘keeper) and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott.
Eight previously capped stars are also back in the fold: goalkeeper James Trafford (Leeds); defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Lewis Hall (Newcastle) and Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton); midfielders Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), James Garner (Everton) and Alex Scott (Bournemouth); and forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) and Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool).
England’s squad for September and October internationals
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford (Everton) James Trafford (Leeds) Jason Steele (Brighton)
Defenders
Marc Guehi (Man City) Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid) Ezri Konsa (Arsenal) Nico O’Reilly (Man City) Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen) Lewis Hall (Newcastle) Trevoh Chalobah (Como) Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
Midfielders
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) Elliot Anderson (Man City) Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) Morgan Gibbs-White (Nott’m Forest) James Garner (Everton) Alex Scott (Bournemouth)
Forwards Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) Anthony Gordon (Barcelona) Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) Morgan Rogers (Chelsea) Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)
Which players have pulled out of the England squad?
Five players withdrew from the England squad on Monday: defender Tino Livramento (Newcastle), midfielders Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) and Declan Rice (Arsenal); and forwards Cole Palmer (Chelsea) and Marcus Rashford (Man United).
Palmer was one of the most notable omissions from Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup but has started the new season in blistering form for Chelsea.
READ MORE: What is the Nations League?
Who are England playing in this international break?
England begin their Nations League League A Group 3 campaign at Wembley on Saturday against world champions Spain.
The Three Lions then face Czechia away and home either side of a trip to Croatia.
England’s September and October Nations League fixtures
Sat 26th Sep, 7:45pm BST: Spain (home)
Tue, 29th Sep, 7:45pm BST: Czechia (away)
Sat 3rd Oct, 5pm BST: Croatia (away)
Tue 6th Oct, 7:45pm BST: Czechia (home)
England’s opponents previewed
Spain
England should certainly be able to gauge just where they’re at when the reigning world and European champions come to Wembley.
Spain got their hands on the World Cup for the second time this summer, winning an ill-tempered final against Argentina to prove themselves the best team on the planet.
En route to glory, Luis de la Fuente’s side conceded a solitary goal and extended their unbeaten run 38 games – a record in international football.
La Roja haven’t been beaten since a 1-0 friendly defeat to Colombia in March 2024 – though that did happen in London.
They’ve not been beaten in a competitive match for three-and-a-half years, losing a Euro 2024 qualifier to Scotland in Glasgow.
But Spain went on to win that tournament – and who did they beat in the final? England.
This will be the countries’ first meeting since that night in Berlin, which proved to be Gareth Southgate’s final game in charge of the Three Lions.
Spain have made a few changes to their victorious World Cup squad, with uncapped Sporting CP right-back Ivan Fresneda and Espanyol striker Roberto Fernandez both earning call-ups.
Czechia
It’s the start of a new era for Czechia, with former Atletico Madrid and Spain defender Santi Denia now at the helm.
Czechia endured a disappointing World Cup return, crashing out in the group stage without winning a game.
But they were promoted to League A of the Nations League last time around and will be wanting to prove they belong in the top tier of the competition.
These will be the fifth and sixth encounters between England and Czechia since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia; England have won three of them, with Czechia’s sole success a 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying victory in Prague seven years ago.
Croatia
Likewise, Croatia are under new management – although, in their case, it’s a familiar face in the dugout as legendary former player Slaven Bilic returns for his second spell as boss.
And his presence on the touchline will give England fans flashbacks: Bilic was in charge on that night in 2007 when Croatia infamously beat Steve McClaren’s Three Lions at a sodden Wembley to stop them qualifying for Euro 2008.
This time, Croatia will be out for revenge for June’s World Cup-opening 4-2 defeat to England in Dallas.
England have won their last three games against Croatia, though they drew 0-0 on their last visit to the country in the 2018/19 Nations League.
