Davide Massa to oversee the Spain‑England showdown at Wembley

Italian referee Davide Massa, 45 years old and active since 1996, will be in charge of the Nations League qualifying match between Spain and England, which will be played this Saturday at Wembley Stadium, London. It will be his debut in this stage and the much‑awaited reunion between the two national teams.

Profile and experience of Davide Massa

Considered one of the best Italian officials, Massa does not appear on FIFA's world‑list. This will be his sixth European appointment of the season, after having refereed the clash between Liverpool and Atlético de Madrid, which ended with an English 2‑1 victory. The photo caption shows credits to Dave Thompson and journalist Ramón Fuentes, both from Madrid.

Reunion after Euro 2026

The match comes after the Euro 2026 final on 14 July 2026, when Spain beat England 2‑1, a precedent that was very satisfying for the Spanish side. Now, with Massa on the whistle, another blockbuster is expected between the two teams.

Regarding his background with national teams, Massa has only refereed Spain once, in a friendly against the Netherlands in 2020 that ended 0‑0, and never in an official match. With Spanish clubs he has numerous precedents, although the article does not detail any specific ones.

Spain kick off the Nations League at Wembley against England

As for England, it will be the fourth time the Italian referee will officiate them, with a record of one win and two losses. The last time was in June 2024, when the English side lost in a friendly against Norway on English soil.

The match is part of the Nations League qualifying phase and will be played at Wembley Stadium in London, offering a genuine spectacle for fans. The fixture marks Massa's debut in this competition and a new chapter in the rivalry between the two nations.

In the VAR, Italian expert Marco Di Bello will collaborate, assisting the main referee during the match.

João Félix, quoted by journalist Jorge Serrano, commented on the Ballon d’Or: “Not enough importance is given to everything he does.” His view adds to the coverage of the announcement, which also mentions Dave Thompson and Ramón Fuentes as the sources of the information.