Spain, England, Portugal Unveil Squads for Nations League Closer

Spain, England, Portugal Unveil Squads for Nations League Closer

Spain, England and Portugal have named their squads for the final round of UEFA Nations League group-stage matches in November, the first international window played without Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, both now retired from national-team duty. The announcements close out a year in which Spain won the 2026 World Cup, and set up a heavyweight meeting between Spain and England on Nov. 15 in Madrid that carries added emotional weight for the hosts.

Spain's squad announcement came days after two tragedies shook the country. A train collision in Urda killed 69 people and injured around 200 on the Madrid-Sevilla high-speed line, one of the worst transport disasters in recent European history and the second such incident in Spain this year. Shortly after, Jesús de Miguel Alameda, a 30-year-old CD Tenerife striker, died following a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a match. Manager Luis de la Fuente, who attended de Miguel's funeral alongside Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, paid tribute to the victims of both events as he named his 27-man list, saying football must unite the country during a period of mourning. Spain, unbeaten in 42 matches and winners of 11 straight games, will face Czechia in Prague on Nov. 12 before hosting England at the Metropolitano on Nov. 15. World Cup winners Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López and goalkeeper Joan García all return, while Rodri, Dani Olmo and Eric García remain out through injury and Gavi was again left out. Tottenham's Pedro Porro, who missed the World Cup through injury, returns, alongside new call-ups Jacobo Ramón of Como, Real Betis pair Marc Roca and Álvaro Valles, and the returning Pablo Barrios and Ander Barrenetxea. σερφ μπετ

England manager Thomas Tuchel recalled Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham for matches against Croatia at Wembley on Nov. 12 and away to Spain on Nov. 15. The 26-man squad also includes a first call-up for 21-year-old Jobe Bellingham, Jude's younger brother and a regular starter at Borussia Dortmund, where Tuchel previously managed. If both feature together, the Bellinghams would join a short list of sibling pairs to represent England, following Gary and Phil Neville and Bobby and Jack Charlton, part of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad. Cole Palmer was left out again; the Chelsea forward missed the World Cup squad and withdrew from October's matches through injury. Tuchel said the door remains open for Palmer but confirmed the squad was built without him, leaving the playmaker's next realistic opportunity in the March 2027 window.

Portugal, the defending Nations League champions, enter their first squad of the post-Ronaldo era under 78-year-old manager Jorge Jesus, who has called up seven new faces - five of them promoted from the under-21 setup - for matches against Denmark in Braga on Nov. 14 and away to Wales in Cardiff on Nov. 17. Among the newcomers are Monza striker Gustavo Varela, currently Serie A's top scorer with nine league goals this season, and 19-year-old Roma forward Rodrigo Mora, who receives his first chance to feature after previous uncalled-upon call-ups. Nuno Tavares, in strong form for Serie A leaders Lazio, is included with PSG's Nuno Mendes sidelined by injury. AC Milan's Gonçalo Ramos, who joined from PSG in a club-record transfer and has scored three goals this season, also returns. The squad still features established figures such as Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Félix and Rafael Leão as Portugal begins shaping its identity without Ronaldo, who retired as the national team's all-time leading scorer with 146 goals and the 2016 European Championship title.