Luis de la Fuente has warned Spain that their World Cup and European Championship successes will count for nothing when they face England in their UEFA Nations League opener at Wembley on Saturday, 26 September. The Spain coach said his players must improve, match England’s motivation and make the most of their limited preparation time if they are to begin the campaign with a victory.

“Nothing we have achieved so far will help us beat England,” De la Fuente said. “We need to be better, and that’s what I’m going to demand from the players in these few days we have to prepare: be better than we have been so far, concentrate and give our all to be better.”

Spain return to action for the first time since beating Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final in July. They travel to London as world champions, having added the World Cup to the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024 titles won during De la Fuente’s tenure.

The 65-year-old’s message comes after the RFEF formally approved a new deal that will keep him in charge through Euro 2032. The six-year extension, agreed during Spain’s World Cup campaign, covers Euro 2028, the 2030 World Cup and Euro 2032, making it the longest contract approved for a Spain men’s head coach.

England versus Spain begins at 19:45 BST at Wembley in Nations League Group A3. Spain then host Croatia in Seville on 29 September, face the Czech Republic in Oviedo on 3 October, and travel to Croatia for the final match of the four-game window on 6 October.