England's Nations League Fixture in Croatia to Proceed Without Fans
UEFA has officially sanctioned Croatia with a stadium ban, meaning England supporters will be barred from attending the Three Lions' Nations League clash in Croatia on Saturday, October 3, 2026. This decision comes as part of a two-game punishment imposed on Croatia due to previous incidents of crowd trouble, including during their Euro 2024 campaign and a Nations League quarter-final against France last year, where objects were thrown, pyrotechnics were used, and inappropriate chants occurred.
Details of UEFA's Punishment and Impact on Fans
The Croatian Football Association confirmed on social media that their first home match, against England, will be played behind closed doors, while Croatian fans are also banned from attending their first away game in the Czech Republic. This has sparked frustration among England fans, who feel unfairly penalised for issues not of their making. Lifelong supporter Garford Beck expressed his dismay, stating, "It's grossly unfair on England fans because we are the innocent party in this. I was one of those who stood on the hill in Rijeka in 2018, and it's tough on those of us who haven't missed an England game for years."
This situation echoes a previous instance in October 2018 when Croatia played a match in Rijeka behind closed doors due to UEFA sanctions, leading hundreds of England fans to watch from a nearby hill. Similarly, England has faced closed-door games in other countries, such as Hungary, where the stadium was filled with schoolchildren instead of supporters.
England's Nations League Schedule and Context
The match against Croatia is part of a broader Nations League campaign for England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, who recently signed a new contract. The full fixture list includes:
- Matchday 1: England v Spain - 7.45pm BST, Saturday 26 September 2026
- Matchday 2: Czechia v England - 7.45pm BST, Tuesday 29 September 2026
- Matchday 3: Croatia v England - 5pm BST, Saturday 3 October 2026
- Matchday 4: England v Czechia - 7.45pm BST, Tuesday 6 October 2026
- Matchday 5: England v Croatia - 7.45pm GMT, Thursday 12 November 2026
- Matchday 6: Spain v England - 7.45pm GMT, Sunday 15 November 2026
UEFA's action includes a heavy fine for Croatia alongside the fan bans, highlighting ongoing efforts to address crowd misconduct in football. Despite the disappointment, this measure aims to uphold safety and integrity in the sport, though it leaves innocent England fans unable to support their team in person for this crucial away fixture.
