In Croatia, Spain arrive on the Adriatic leg of their UEFA Nations League campaign with a quarter-final place within reach, while the hosts are trying to steady themselves after a bruising night against England. Tuesday’s Group C meeting offers Lamine Yamal and Spain the chance to preserve a flawless start; for Croatia, it has become a match with little room for another setback.
Match details
- Fixture: Croatia vs Spain
- Competition: UEFA Nations League, Group C, matchday four
- Date: Tuesday, 6 October 2026
- Kick-off: 12:45 Central Mexico time
- Broadcast in Mexico: Sky Sports
Spain’s route to the Croatian test
- Spain opened their group campaign with a 3-2 comeback win away to England.
- They then beat Croatia 4-1 in Seville.
- The world champions followed that result by defeating Czechia 3-1 at home.
- Those three victories have put Spain top of Group C on nine points, with 10 goals scored and four conceded.
- A further win in Croatia would secure their place in the Nations League quarter-finals.
Croatia searching for a response
- Croatia began with a 2-1 victory away against Czechia.
- Their momentum was halted by the 4-1 loss in Spain.
- They then suffered a 7-0 home defeat to England, a result that left them needing an immediate response.
- Croatia sit third in the section with three points, having scored three times and conceded 12 goals.
- Failure to take all three points against Spain would leave their hopes of reaching the last eight in serious doubt.
A favourable record for Spain
Spain have held the upper hand throughout this fixture’s modern history. Across 12 meetings since 1994, La Roja have won eight times, drawn once and lost three times. They travel with four consecutive wins over Croatia, a sequence that started after Croatia’s 3-2 Nations League group-stage victory in November 2018.
Spain’s record in matches played on Croatian soil stands at one win, one draw and one defeat. Several other games listed with Croatia as the nominal home side were staged at neutral venues. Spain’s most recent visit to Croatia was that 3-2 defeat in 2018, making Tuesday’s trip their first return since then.
