England have issued a major supporter update ahead of Saturday’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Croatia in Rijeka, with the issue of away-fan conduct and the behaviour expected from supporters becoming a major talking point before kick-off.
The fixture at Stadion HNK Rijeka is being played under unusual circumstances after UEFA disciplinary measures against Croatia following incidents involving supporters during their Nations League quarter-final against France in 2025. The punishment means the Croatian national team is officially serving a home fixture behind closed doors.
However, the situation is not quite as straightforward as a completely empty stadium.
A limited number of England supporters have been permitted to attend after discussions involving UEFA and the England Supporters Travel Club. England Football confirmed that 100 complimentary tickets were made available to active members of the England Supporters Travel Club for the fixture.
The decision has attracted considerable attention among England supporters, particularly because away fans were initially expected to be excluded from the fixture.
England issue supporter announcement
The announcement from England Football confirmed that a small delegation of travelling supporters would be permitted to attend despite the match being officially classified as behind closed doors.
England Football said it had worked with UEFA to secure the limited allocation and explained that demand for the tickets was expected to be considerably higher than the number available. Supporters were required to register their interest before a ballot was conducted.
The announcement also made clear that attendance at the fixture would not count towards supporters’ usual England Supporters Travel Club caps totals.
With only 100 tickets available, the allocation represents just a tiny fraction of the number of England fans who would ordinarily travel to an away Nations League fixture.
That has made the behaviour of those attending particularly important.
The announcement in full context: away-fan conduct
England’s message to the travelling supporters is centred on responsible behaviour and respect for the restrictions surrounding the fixture.
With the match being played under UEFA disciplinary measures, supporters travelling to Rijeka are expected to respect the stadium regulations, follow instructions from officials and stewards, and avoid behaviour that could create further disciplinary problems.
The circumstances are particularly sensitive because the fixture itself is being played behind closed doors as a consequence of previous crowd-related incidents involving Croatia supporters. UEFA’s disciplinary action followed incidents including discriminatory behaviour and the use of fireworks during Croatia’s match against France.
England’s limited group of travelling supporters therefore face a very different matchday experience from the thousands who normally follow the Three Lions abroad.
The England Football update stressed that the opportunity had been secured through discussions with UEFA and that the allocation was extremely limited.
The message effectively places responsibility on those selected to ensure that the rare opportunity to watch England inside the stadium does not create another disciplinary issue.
The importance of that message has also been highlighted by the unusual atmosphere expected inside the stadium.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that the match will feel very different from a normal international fixture because there will not be the usual crowd atmosphere. He welcomed the opportunity for the small number of England supporters to attend and also expressed his happiness that Croatian children would have the opportunity to watch the players close up.
Around the match itself, reports indicate that thousands of Croatian schoolchildren have been permitted to attend despite the behind-closed-doors punishment, meaning the stadium will not actually be completely empty.
That unusual setting has created another layer to an already complicated fixture.
Fans react online
The announcement quickly generated discussion among England supporters online, particularly over the extremely limited number of tickets and the responsibility placed on those fortunate enough to receive them.
@ThreeLionsDan: “Only 100 tickets but at least some England fans will be there. Make it count.”
@TommyThreeLions: “Behind closed doors but England fans still getting a chance to watch. Fair play to everyone who worked on this.”
@EnglandAwayDays: “100 fans in a stadium of thousands of children. It will be one of the strangest England away games ever.”
The unusual circumstances also prompted some frustration from supporters who missed out on tickets.
@Liam_ENG: “Imagine registering and still missing out because only 100 tickets were available. The demand must have been massive.”
@SophieThreeLions: “At least they managed to get some England supporters inside. Better than having nobody there at all.”
The comments reflect two sides of the discussion: excitement among those travelling and disappointment among the much larger number of supporters who could not secure one of the limited places.
Focus turns back to football
Away from the supporter situation, England arrive in Rijeka looking to build momentum in Nations League Group A3.
Thomas Tuchel’s side followed their opening defeat by Spain with a victory over Czechia, leaving the Three Lions with three points heading into the Croatia fixture. England’s official match centre lists the game for 5pm BST at Stadion HNK Rijeka.
England also enter the match with confidence from their most recent competitive meeting with Croatia, having defeated them 4-2 during the 2026 World Cup group stage.
Tuchel, however, has warned his players against becoming distracted by the unusual surroundings.
Speaking ahead of the match, the England boss said the team must not treat the occasion like a pre-season game simply because thousands of children will be present rather than a traditional football crowd.
He described the fixture as a crucial Nations League game and stressed the need for professionalism.
For the 100 England supporters inside the stadium, meanwhile, the occasion will be unlike almost any other away match.
They will have the rare opportunity to watch the Three Lions from inside a stadium officially closed to supporters — while also carrying the responsibility that comes with being part of such a small travelling group.
The message from England is therefore clear: enjoy the occasion, support the team and respect the restrictions.
For those following from home, the debate over away-fan conduct is likely to continue long after the final whistle.
