UEFA Nations League 2026-27: Mikel Oyarzabal Nets Winner as World Champions Spain Sink England in Wembley Thriller
Mikel Oyarzabal, 29, clinched a 3-2 UEFA Nations League victory for Spain over Thomas Tuchel's England on Friday, September 26, 2026, with a late goal at Estadio Metropolitano. The result came after 33-year-old England captain Harry Kane missed a crucial penalty, allowing Spain to capitalize and secure three points in their opening fixture.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored the decisive goal as world champions Spain came from behind to defeat England 3-2 in a thrilling UEFA Nations League clash at Wembley Stadium. In a frantic Group C fixture, the visitors recovered from a 2-1 half-time deficit, with second-half strikes from Alex Baena and Oyarzabal securing a statement victory for La Roja. The defeat marked a frustrating night for Thomas Tuchel’s England, who missed a crucial penalty that could have put the game out of reach. UEFA Nations League 2026–27: Kylian Mbappe Strike Fires France Win Over Turkey To Kick Off Zinedine Zidane Era.
Spain Win 3-2
🏁 FIIIIINAAAAAL AT WEMBLEY!! 🇪🇸🔥
WHAT. A. GAME. 😮
What a way to kick off the #NationsLeague. Two stars. One statement. ⭐️⭐️
🏴🇬🇧 🆚 🇪🇸 | 2-3 | 90+6’#VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/yr7tAIFCWa
— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) September 26, 2026
Frantic First Half
Spain started brilliantly, silencing the Wembley crowd in the second minute when teenager Lamine Yamal slotted the ball past England goalkeeper James Trafford. However, the hosts quickly found their rhythm and responded with a lethal counter-attack. Anthony Gordon flew behind the Spanish defence in the 36th minute to guide home the equaliser.
Just four minutes later, captain Harry Kane completed the turnaround. Meeting a cross from Nico O'Reilly, Kane directed a header that deflected off Marc Cucurella and into the back of the net, giving England a 2-1 advantage at the break. UEFA Nations League 2026-27: Erling Haaland's Brace Seals Thrilling 3-2 Win for Norway Over Denmark.
Spanish Resurgence
England had a golden opportunity to take full control of the match early in the second half. A VAR review awarded the hosts a penalty in the 52nd minute, but Kane’s powerful strike cannoned off the crossbar.
Spain immediately punished the missed chance. In the 60th minute, substitute Álex Baena levelled the scoreline with a clinical finish. The reigning World Cup and European champions then completed their comeback in the 74th minute. Oyarzabal, who also scored the winning goal against England in the Euro 2024 final, eased into the box and elegantly chipped the ball over Trafford to seal the 3-2 victory.
Here are the current standings for League A - Group C, following the opening round of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Croatia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 4 | England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
Both Spain and Croatia secured victories in their opening fixtures. Spain currently holds the top spot on goals scored after their 3-2 comeback win against England, while Croatia sits in second following a 2-1 away victory over the Czech Republic.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2026 08:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
