Spain, the newly crowned world champion, returned to international action with a spectacular 3-2 victory over England at the legendary Wembley Stadium, kicking off its UEFA Nations League campaign. With this brilliant result, the Spanish team extends its impressive unbeaten streak to 39 consecutive matches.
The match, which marked the first outing for Luis de la Fuente’s squad since defeating Argentina in the World Cup final, began with a burst of brilliance. In less than two minutes, young star Lamine Yamal stole the ball from defender Marc Guehi and finished with a powerful low shot to open the scoring.
OYARZABAL PUTS SPAIN BACK ON TOP 🙌
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 26, 2026
Mikel Oyarzabal chips it in to give Spain a 3-2 lead over England. pic.twitter.com/5XQFgwb3Bx
Despite this early setback, England managed to bounce back and turn the game around before halftime. In the 36th minute, Antony Gordon capped off a quick counterattack after linking up with Jude Bellingham to tie the game. Just four minutes later, a header by Harry Kane—deflected by Marc Cucurella—put the home team ahead 2-1.
The turning point of the match came early in the second half. After Rodri fouled Kane in the box, the referee awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Kane had the chance to seal the match at 3-1, but he slipped dramatically as he ran up to take the kick, missing the penalty.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert the penalty; that could have been the decisive moment,” England head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted after the match. “Spain’s third goal was the only one they really built up; on the others, we made too many serious individual mistakes.”
Spain, playing with the poise of a true champion, capitalized on England’s mistake. In the 60th minute, the newly substituted Alex Baena tied the game with a well-placed shot into the corner, taking advantage of a costly turnover by Nico O’Reilly near his own box.
The final blow came courtesy of the man who had already been England’s nemesis in the 2024 Euro final: Mikel Oyarzabal. In the 74th minute, after receiving an assist from Baena himself, Oyarzabal finished with enviable composure, gently chipping the ball over goalkeeper James Trafford from close range to seal the final 3-2 score.
With this resounding statement in London, Spain leads Group A3 of the Nations League and proves, once again, that its dominance and hunger for glory in world soccer remain intact.
