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• 2026-27 Nations League draw revealed as England, Wales discover daunting League A opponents

  England have been placed in a challenging 2026-27 Nations League group alongside Spain, Croatia, and Czechia, marking Thomas Tuchel’s first major tournament cycle since extending his contract. ​England’s return to the top tier of the Nations League will feature a high-stakes reunion with Spain, the team that denied them glory in the Euro 2024 final. Following their promotion under Lee Carsley, the Three Lions were placed in League A Group 3, where they will also contend with recurring rivals Croatia and a resilient Czechia side. This daunting draw coincides with the confirmation that Thomas Tuchel has extended his managerial deal until 2028, ensuring he will lead the squad through this competitive cycle following the 2026 World Cup. ​The tournament structure also presents a difficult task for Wales, who must navigate a group containing title-holders Portugal, Norway, and Denmark. Meanwhile, Scotland will face Switzerland and Slovenia in League B, while Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland prepare for tests against Hungary and Austria respectively. Fixtures are scheduled to commence in late September 2026, utilizing a revised international window format. Regarding the challenging path ahead, FA sources indicated that the schedule provides “belated revenge” opportunities as England seeks to re-establish dominance among Europe’s elite.

• Premier League midfielder to be stripped of captaincy

  Tomas Soucek faces losing his national team captaincy for the Czech Republic after players failed to acknowledge fans following a recent World Cup qualifier.

  West Ham United’s Tomáš Souček is set to lose the Czech Republic captain’s armband for the nation’s next fixture following a clash with fans after their final World Cup qualifying game, despite the team securing a 6-0 victory over Gibraltar, according to a report from NationalWorld.

  The incident occurred after the full-time whistle, when the players elected not to approach the travelling Czech supporters to applaud them—an action that was confirmed by the Czech FA to result in the forfeiture of their match bonuses.

  A spokesperson for the FACR Football Association stated: “Unfortunately, the players’ attitude completely overshadowed the performance on the pitch and the positive fact of the national team’s advancement to the play-offs for the 2026 World Cup.”

  The association spokesperson stressed the importance of fan appreciation, adding: “The players’ reaction should have been the opposite. They should have thanked the active fans.”

  As a result of the incident, the FA confirmed: “The FACR Football Association also decided that Tomas Soucek will not lead the team as captain in the next match and the players will not be paid bonuses related to yesterday’s qualifying match. These funds will be donated to help those in need.”

  The team now advances to the play-offs, where they must defeat the Republic of Ireland and then either Denmark or North Macedonia to qualify for the 2026 tournament.

• Bellamy’s Wales seek Cardiff magic for World Cup

  Wales hopes to channel the spirit of past famous victories at Cardiff City Stadium in their crucial World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia.

• Vlasic seals incredible comeback win for Croatia

  Croatia produced a stunning comeback to beat Montenegro 3-2 and finish their World Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten, while Czechia demolished Gibraltar 6-0.

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• Germany, Dutch secure World Cup spots, Poland for playoffs

  Germany and the Netherlands decisively booked their places in the next World Cup, while Poland, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and the Czech Republic secured spots in the upcoming playoffs after the final qualifying matches.

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