Croatia Faces England at Wembley After 7-0 Loss
Croatia, third in its Nations League group, meets England at Wembley after the heavy defeat in Rijeka.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Soccer
England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka last month, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scoring twice. Croatia later lost 2-1 to Spain and now sits third in its Nations League group behind Spain and England.
Why it matters
The result leaves Croatia's Nations League position under pressure while its next meeting with England offers a chance to show a stronger performance. Finishing third in the group would still be seen as a useful outcome for Euro 2028 qualifying.
Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice in England's 7-0 win, while Croatia's 2-1 loss to Spain showed a narrower margin. Whether Croatia can close that gap against England at Wembley has not yet been tested.
The players
Harry Kane
England's striker who scored twice in the 7-0 win over Croatia in Rijeka.
Bukayo Saka
England forward who also scored twice in the Rijeka win over Croatia.
Ivan Perisic
Croatian veteran winger who will miss the Wembley match after a red card against Spain.
The details
England's 7-0 win over Croatia in Rijeka was followed by a 2-1 defeat for Croatia against Spain. Ivan Perisic will miss the Wembley match after a red card against Spain.
Timeline
October 2026: England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka.
A few days later: Croatia lost 2-1 to Spain.
November 12, 2026: Croatia plays England at Wembley.
Season Trajectory
Croatia's third-place position in its Nations League group, behind Spain and England, shapes its route into the Euro 2028 qualifiers. A strong finish in the group would keep that pathway open.
Croatia's position in the Nations League table shapes its path toward Euro 2028 qualifying. Losing Ivan Perisic to suspension for the Wembley match removes a key option from its squad.
The takeaway
Croatia's results against England and Spain show a gap in performance that its Wembley meeting will test. A stronger showing there would help secure its position in the group.
What happens next
Croatia plays England at Wembley on November 12, 2026, a fixture that will show whether Croatia can match its standard against England.
Further reading
For more on the team's competitions, see Soccer coverage across international tournaments.
