England Face Croatia Behind Closed Doors in Nations League After Crowd Sanctions

England play Croatia on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Stadion Rujevica in Rijeka in a UEFA Nations League 2026-27 Group A3 fixture, according to ESPN. Kick-off is 5pm UK time, ESPN reported, which is 6pm local time in Croatia, according to Al Jazeera.

The game is a UEFA-ordered behind-closed-doors match, meaning Croatia's football federation (HNS) is not permitted to sell tickets to the general public for this home fixture, per ESPN and SportBible.

Why there is no crowd

UEFA sanctioned Croatia after crowd disturbances during the country's March 2025 Nations League quarter-final against France, played over two legs in Split and Paris, according to ESPN and Croatia Week. Seven individuals were taken into custody on suspicion of making Nazi salutes during one of the games but were released without prosecution due to a lack of evidence, ESPN reported.

UEFA's disciplinary file also cited fireworks set off in the Croatia supporters' section, laser use, blocked stadium passageways, and damage caused at the Stade de France, Croatia Week reported, citing an HNS statement. UEFA fined the Croatian federation a total of €93,000 across both legs and opened disciplinary proceedings over racism and discrimination, according to Croatia Week.

The punishment included one home match played without spectators and one away match with Croatian supporters barred from buying tickets, ESPN reported. Croatia already served the away-fan ban during its opening Nations League match of this campaign against Czechia; the England fixture in Rijeka is the home-stadium closed-doors match, per ESPN.

Who is actually allowed inside

Despite the closed-doors order, the match will not be entirely empty. Under Article 73 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations, children up to age 14 from schools or academies can be invited free of charge even to sanctioned matches, SportBible reported. The Croatian federation has used that exception to invite school groups, and SportBible reported the 8,279-capacity stadium could reach around 75% occupancy — roughly 6,200 to 6,300 people, mostly schoolchildren and accompanying adults.

Following separate talks between the Football Association and UEFA, around 100 England supporters were also granted complimentary tickets, ESPN reported.

Second time at this ground

This is the second time in roughly eight years that England have played Croatia behind closed doors at this venue, ESPN reported. ESPN said the earlier closed-doors order followed a swastika found marked on the pitch ahead of a Croatia-Italy match.

Team news and recent form

England captain Harry Kane has scored in back-to-back games and winger Anthony Gordon is also in form, Al Jazeera reported. Left-back Nico O'Reilly is out injured, Al Jazeera reported, and ESPN reported that Cole Palmer, Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford are unavailable after withdrawing from the squad at the start of the international break.

For Croatia, centre-back Martin Erlic (injured until mid-October) and right-back Josip Juranovic (illness) are out, Al Jazeera reported. Midfielder Luka Modric, 41, remains a regular starter, with Ivan Perisic also in good form, according to Al Jazeera.

Both teams have one win and one loss from their opening two games in a group that also includes reigning world champions Spain, Al Jazeera reported. ESPN named Sven Jablonski as referee for the England-Croatia match, with Christian Dingert on VAR; the game is being broadcast in the UK on ITV1.