Spain will face England without midfielder Victor Munoz on Saturday evening, as the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign kicks off at Wembley. The omission marks a significant absence for the Spanish squad, with Munoz joining Rio Ngumoha among notable players sidelined for the Group 3 League A fixture. Both the World champions and their opponents are preparing for what promises to be a high-stakes opening contest, with each nation eyeing the top spot in their competitive division.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has reshaped his squad for the encounter, with five players unavailable for the matchday roster: Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, and Declan Rice. To bolster the 23-man squad, Tuchel has called upon James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White. Among the notable absences is teenager Rio Ngumoha, whose exclusion has disappointed Liverpool supporters who have watched the young talent's rise through the ranks. Spain have mirrored England's squad-management approach by excluding Munoz, meaning neither player will feature in what shapes up as a clash between two of world football's elite.
Importantly, neither Munoz nor Ngumoha's absence stems from injury concerns. Instead, both managers made calculated decisions to leave them out of the matchday squads due to limited squad spots. For Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, there is a silver lining to this development: both players will avoid potential injury risks before club football resumes, allowing them to return to Merseyside in good health.
As Spain and England prepare for their Group 3 showdown, the fixture represents a crucial early test in the Nations League campaign. With both sides boasting considerable talent and aspirations to dominate their group, the encounter will provide an early indication of how each nation shapes up during this competitive international window.