England fans will not be allowed to attend the UEFA Nations League match against the Three Lions in Croatia after UEFA banned their home country’s supporters from entering stadiums.
England fans will be unable to attend Three Lions match in Croatia (Image: AP)
England must play their Nations League match in Croatia behind closed doors. UEFA has announced that no fans will be allowed into the match on Saturday, October 3, as part of a two-match penalty against Croatia due to past crowd troubles.
They were given a hefty fine, banned from selling tickets to their own fans for their first away match, and completely banned from their first home match.
UEFA has taken action against Croatia, which was also sanctioned for issues at Euro 2024, after incidents including throwing objects, using fireworks and chanting occurred during last year’s Nations League quarter-final match against France.
However, this will be tough for England fans who have actually been in this situation before, as Croatia played behind closed doors in Rijeka in October 2018 due to UEFA sanctions against the hosts.
Hundreds of England fans attended, many watching from the hill above the stadium.
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The Croatian FA confirmed on social media that the first home match against England will be played behind closed doors and that Croatian fans will not be able to attend the first away match in the Czech Republic.
Garford Beck, a lifelong England fan, said: “It’s extremely unfair to England fans because we are the innocent party in this matter.”
“I was one of the players on the hill and it’s tough for us who haven’t missed an England game in years. I hope UEFA will be wise.”
“I saw the news and thought, ‘Oh no, no again’. I don’t think that’s fair to England fans. Maybe they’ll give tickets to local schoolchildren, but even that would seem strange if innocent fans weren’t allowed in.”
England also had to play another match behind closed doors in Hungary, but the hosts filled the venue with thousands of schoolchildren.
England manager Thomas Tuchel will take charge of Nations League matches after signing a new contract (Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
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complete match list
Matchday 1: England vs Spain
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 7:45pm BST
Section 2: Czech Republic v England
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 7:45pm BST
Matchday 3: Croatia v England
Saturday 3 October 2026 5pm BST
Matchday 4: England v Czech Republic
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 7:45pm BST
Match 5: England vs Croatia
Thursday, November 12, 2026 7:45pm (GMT)
Round 6: Spain vs England
Sunday, November 15, 2026, 7:45 PM GMT
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