The invention relates to a fuel element (2) for a pressurized water nuclear reactor, in which fuel element (2) a multiplicity of fuel rods (6) which extend in a longitudinal direction (4) are guided in a plurality of spacers (8-I, 8-II) which are spaced apart from one another axially, the spacers (8-II) of an upper region (II) having a lower flow resistance in a transverse direction (16, 18), which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (4), than the spacers (8-I) of a lower region (I).