England will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a heavyweight Group L clash against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, as Thomas Tuchel’s side continue their quest to end decades of hurt on football’s biggest stage.
The Three Lions arrive in North America carrying the expectations of a nation desperate to see the World Cup trophy return to England for the first time since 1966. Their qualification campaign could hardly have gone better, with England becoming the first European nation to secure a place at the tournament after winning all eight matches and keeping eight clean sheets.
However, recent friendly performances have raised some concerns. England failed to beat both Uruguay and Japan earlier this year, while Harry Kane needed to rescue the team in a difficult encounter against New Zealand. A convincing victory over Costa Rica in their final warm-up match did restore confidence ahead of the tournament.
England’s record in World Cup opening matches is also encouraging, having lost only one of their last eight tournament openers. The Three Lions have won each of their last two first matches at the World Cup and will be aiming to continue that trend against familiar opponents.
Croatia, meanwhile, remain one of international football’s most respected tournament teams. Despite not being among the leading favourites, the Croatians have consistently delivered on the biggest stage, reaching the 2018 World Cup final and finishing third in 2022.
Zlatko Dalić’s side will be eager to bounce back from a disappointing UEFA Euro 2024 campaign, where they exited at the group stage without recording a victory. However, their qualification campaign for this World Cup showed they remain a formidable force, dropping just two points in eight matches to comfortably secure top spot in their group.
While many of Croatia’s golden generation are entering the latter stages of their careers, their experience, resilience and tournament pedigree make them dangerous opponents for any nation.
With two of Europe’s strongest teams meeting in the opening round, the Group L clash promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the early stages of World Cup 2026.
Team News
While Tuchel is not working with any severe concerns ahead of game one, a big question mark is hanging over the head of Arsenal wing wizard Bukayo Saka, who is reportedly struggling to prove his fitness in time.
Gunners teammate Noni Madueke could therefore be given the nod on the right-hand side of England’s attack, which is also expected to feature future Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon at the expense of former Blaugrana winger Marcus Rashford.
Meanwhile, Croatia arrive in Arlington with all of their options available, including the evergreen Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic, who amassed 26 goals and assists combined for PSV Eindhoven last season.
Hoffenheim legend Andrej Kramaric registered just three fewer involvements in 2025-26, but local reports have suggested that Dallas striker Petar Musa – who has 12 goals in 13 MLS games in 2026 – could be given the nod in the number nine role instead.
Possible lineups
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; James, Stones, Konsa, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Croatia possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Stanisic, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic; Sucic, Baturina; Musa
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 21:00 (WAT) |
Match predictions
Softfootball predicts England 2-1 Croatia
While the most famous result in this head-to-head went Croatia’s way, England have since gone unbeaten in three against the Chequered Ones, who come into the World Cup with a dissatisfactory defensive record.
