But their second successive away match in the competition is to be, mostly, played behind closed doors.
Why is the Croatia vs England being played behind closed doors?
The partial ban on supporters attending is part of a punishment handed down to Croatia regarding sanctions that date back to March 2025 and incidents involving fans around matches against France in the quarter-finals of the Nations League.
Croatia’s football association paid a fine of around £80,000 and faced disciplinary proceedings relating to racism and discrimination.
The Stadion HNK Rijeka hosts Croatia vs England on Saturday
Getty
Why is the ban only happening now?
On May 19, 2025, UEFA ruled that Croatia would play their next home fixture without supporters as well as serving a one-match ban on their supporters away from home.
While Croatia have since hosted Montenegro, Gibraltar, Faroe Island, Belgium and Slovenia, those were all FIFA-sanctioned home matches. Whether it be World Cup qualifiers or international friendlies.
As such, England are the first team to visit Croatia in a UEFA competition since the France match.
Why can fans still attend?
Slaven Bilic has returned for a second spell as Croatia national team manager, winning his first game back against Czech Republic before a 4-1 loss at the hands of world champions Spain.
For Bilic’s homecoming, he won’t have the backing of the Croatia supporters. Or will he?
According to a report in the Times, the stadium could be up to 75 per cent full due to Article 73 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations which state that there are a series of exceptions to those allowed to attend behind closed doors fixtures.
The regulations state there is an exception for “children up to the age of 14 (duly accompanied) from schools and/or football academies invited to the match free of charge”.
As per the Athletic, UEFA, just last week, had initially anticipated around 3,000 children plus carers would be in attendance. The HNS (The Croatian Football Federation) now expects between 5,500 and 6,000 children to attend, having been invited by the HNS from football academies across Croatia, and from schools in the Rijeka area.
Slaven Bilic is back as Croatia manager
AFP/Getty
Furthermore, there will be a handful of England supporters in attendance at the Stadion HNK Rijeka, which holds a capacity of 8,279.
“Following discussions with UEFA, a small delegation of England Supporters Travel Club members will be permitted to attend England’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Croatia,” a statement reads.
“We have been granted permission to allocate 100 complimentary tickets to active 2026-2028 England Supporters Travel Club members, giving a small number of our supporters the opportunity to attend the fixture.”
What has Thomas Tuchel said?
Speaking on Friday in the pre-match press conference, Tuchel – who does not have fond memories in Croatia as his last match as Chelsea boss was a Champions League defeat in Zagreb – said it’s “never nice” to play behind closed doors.
“First of all, I am happy for the children who will be at the match tomorrow that they have the chance to come and watch the game and players that close.
“I am glad that our 100 or 200 fans have the chance to be here. It means a lot to us. The most loyal fans have the chance to watch the game.
England boss Thomas Tuchel
Getty
“To be behind closed doors, it’s never nice. It’s a strange atmosphere. Everyone would love the atmosphere in the stadium – a proper football crowd which would be very, very difference.
“This is a part we have to take into consideration. We cannot switch off and be in holiday mood. It might feel a bit like pre-season but it’s not. It’s a crucial match in the Nations League.”
Have England faced Croatia behind closed doors before?
Yes. England’ last visit to Rijeka to face Croatia in October 2018 – also in a Nations League clash – was played behind closed doors.
This was a result of a swastika being marked on the pitch ahead of Croatia’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.
That marked England’s first senior international to be played behind closed doors.
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