The UEFA Nations League 2026-27 continues this weekend with a pivotal Group A3 encounter between Croatia and England at Rujevica Stadium in Rijeka. The match is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, with kickoff at 6pm local time (16:00 GMT).
Both teams enter the fixture with mixed records, having secured one victory and one defeat each in the opening rounds. Their path to this point has been distinct: Croatia opened with a 2-1 away win against Czechia before suffering a 4-1 loss to defending world champions Spain in Seville. England, conversely, fell 3-2 to Spain in their London opener but rebounded with a 2-0 victory over a ten-man Czechia side in Prague.
The stakes are heightened by the recent history between the two sides. They last met during the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage on June 17 in Arlington, Texas, where England defeated Croatia 4-2. Captain Harry Kane scored twice in that match, with Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham also finding the net.
For England, Kane has been the focal point of the attack, operating effectively alongside winger Anthony Gordon. Gordon has been instrumental, scoring in consecutive matches and contributing significantly to the team’s offensive output. Kane, currently plying his trade for Bayern Munich, has netted six goals this season.
On the Croatian side, 41-year-old captain Luka Modric continues to defy expectations, orchestrating the midfield with distinction. He scored in the victory over Czechia, while veteran forward Ivan Perisic has provided back-to-back assists, showcasing his enduring quality.
Historically, England holds the edge in the head-to-head record, having won seven of the twelve meetings compared to Croatia’s three victories, with two draws.
In terms of team news, Croatia will be without centre-back Martin Erlic due to injury and right-back Josip Juranovic, who is sidelined with illness. England will miss left-back Nico O’Reilly, who withdrew from the squad due to injury.
Viewers can follow the action through Al Jazeera Sport, which provides live updates starting at 13:00 GMT. Broadcast details vary by region, with ITV1 covering the match in the United Kingdom and FOX Sports and FuboTV available in the United States.
Is anyone else worried about England’s defense after that Spain game? Conceding three at home is worrying.
I never expected Kane to score six goals already this season. He is just too clinical for anyone to handle.
Modric at 41 still running the show? Absolutely remarkable. England need to disrupt his rhythm early or they will struggle.