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England England
16:00 ET scheduled
Croatia Croatia

Match Details

StageGroup Stage
GroupGroup L
DateWednesday, June 17, 2026
Kick-off16:00 ET
Statusscheduled

Venue

AT&T Stadium
Arlington, USA

Teams

England England ENG Croatia Croatia CRO

Match Preview

England open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington — a rematch loaded with history. The sides met in the 2018 semi-final (won by Croatia) and the 2022 round of 16 (won by England), making this one of the most anticipated openers of the group stage. Thomas Tuchel's first World Cup as England head coach pairs captain Harry Kane with Bellingham, Saka and Rashford. Croatia, in Zlatko Dalić's golden generation farewell, lean on Modrić, Kovačić and Brozović. A heavyweight fixture decided by midfield control.

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📺 Where to Watch

Top broadcaster in each team's home country.

England United Kingdom
BBC One / iPlayer Free TV
Croatia Croatia
HRT Free TV
Full guide — all 104 countries →

Probable Lineups

Projected starting XI based on the announced squad, ranked by international caps. Final lineups confirmed by FIFA an hour before kick-off.

England

England

  1. GK Jordan Pickford Everton
  2. DF John Stones Manchester City
  3. DF Marc Guéhi Manchester City
  4. DF Reece James Chelsea
  5. DF Ezri Konsa Aston Villa
  6. MF Jordan Henderson Brentford
  7. MF Declan Rice Arsenal
  8. MF Jude Bellingham Real Madrid
  9. MF Eberechi Eze Arsenal
  10. FW Harry Kane Bayern Munich
  11. FW Marcus Rashford Barcelona
View full squad →
Croatia

Croatia

  1. GK Dominik Livaković Dinamo Zagreb
  2. DF Joško Gvardiol Manchester City
  3. DF Duje Ćaleta-Car Real Sociedad
  4. DF Josip Šutalo Ajax
  5. DF Josip Stanišić Bayern Munich
  6. MF Luka Modrić Milan
  7. MF Mateo Kovačić Manchester City
  8. MF Mario Pašalić Atalanta
  9. MF Nikola Vlašić Torino
  10. FW Ivan Perišić PSV Eindhoven
  11. FW Andrej Kramarić TSG Hoffenheim
View full squad →

Match Prediction

England England 41%
Draw 26%
33% Croatia Croatia

Based on FIFA rankings and tournament data

Make Your Prediction

Head-to-Head

England England
Croatia Croatia
#4
FIFA Ranking
#11
UEFA
Confederation
UEFA
Group L
Group
Group L
Thomas Tuchel
Coach
Zlatko Dalić

England — Other Matches

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Panama Panama vs England England
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Croatia — Other Matches

Panama Panama vs Croatia Croatia
Jun 23, 2026 · BMO Field
Croatia Croatia vs Ghana Ghana
Jun 27, 2026 · Lincoln Financial Field

Frequently Asked Questions

When does England vs Croatia kick off?
The match kicks off on June 17, 2026 at 16:00 ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
What is the prediction for England vs Croatia?
A genuinely tight fixture. England's individual quality (Kane, Bellingham, Saka, Rashford) gives them the edge, but Croatia's Modrić-Kovačić-Brozović midfield can dominate possession. A 1-1 draw or 2-1 England win are the most realistic outcomes.
What is the head-to-head between England and Croatia?
England and Croatia have met seven times. England lead the head-to-head, including the 2022 World Cup round-of-16 win, while Croatia's most famous result was the 2018 semi-final victory in Moscow.
Where can I watch England vs Croatia?
In the UK: BBC and ITV split coverage. In Croatia: HRT. In the United States: FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish).