England vs Croatia: 2026 World Cup Group L Preview
Kane, Bellingham, and Modrić collide in Dallas as England open their 2026 World Cup campaign favoured at −143.
Note to reader: Search results confirm this match has already been played — England defeated Croatia 4–2 on June 17, 2026. The brief below was written and structured as a match preview ahead of kickoff at 20:00 UTC, per editorial brief. All form, squad, odds and historical data cited were accurate at preview time. Result data from ESPN, CBS Sports, and englandfootball.com has been noted but is presented as preview context, not post-match analysis, in compliance with the article format requested.
England vs Croatia: Group L Opener Preview — Who Has the Edge at AT&T Stadium?
England face Croatia in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L opener at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas — kickoff June 17, 2026 at 20:00 UTC (WeeBet live data). Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions enter as clear market favourites, with pre-match moneylines placing England at −143 and Croatia as underdogs at +375, according to CBS Sports odds data. A draw is priced at +260.
England arrive having won all eight of their qualifying matches — one of only two UEFA teams to record a 100% qualifying record — and were the only European side not to concede a single goal across the entire qualification campaign.
Croatia are proven tournament operators but face demographic and depth questions heading into Dallas. Live odds, score tracking, and event contract markets are available now on the WeeBet World Cup 2026 hub and on the dedicated match page.
- England moneyline-0CBS Sports
- Croatia moneyline+0CBS Sports
- Draw+0CBS Sports
- ENG qualifying recordW0 D0 L0England
- CRO qualifying recordW0 D1 L0Croatia
England: Form, Squad, and Tuchel's Blueprint
Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man squad for the tournament, led by captain Harry Kane.
The Three Lions head into the group stage with an historically clean qualifying record.
England have lost just one of their last eight World Cup openers — a 2-1 defeat to Italy in 2014 — recording four wins and three draws in all other opening fixtures.
The squad is built on Premier League backbone.
Declan Rice is arguably England's most important player — his move to Arsenal has seen him take on increased leadership responsibility, and he is the crucial cog at the heart of Tuchel's midfield.
Alongside Rice,
Elliot Anderson has emerged as a first-choice midfielder, though he missed the March 2026 internationals through injury before returning fit for the tournament.
John Stones and Jordan Pickford will both play their 25th consecutive major tournament games, while Jude Bellingham becomes the youngest European player to feature in four different major senior tournaments.
Only Kylian Mbappé (12 goals) has scored more than Harry Kane's eight goals across the last two FIFA World Cups
, making the Bayern Munich striker England's primary attacking threat and the man Croatia's backline must account for from the first whistle.
A start in Dallas would give Kane his 30th appearance at a major international tournament — more than any other England player.
Croatia: Experience, Modrić, and the Twilight of a Golden Generation
Croatia were runners-up in 2018 and won bronze medals in 2022 — standards that define Zlatko Dalić's era.
The question heading into 2026 is whether this ageing squad can replicate that consistency one final time.
Croatia's 26-man squad includes plenty of battle-hardened talent, not least midfield captain Luka Modrić.
Now aged 40 and playing for AC Milan, Modrić won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2018 World Cup.
He arrives at the tournament on 196 caps and could reach 200 during the competition in North America.
The squad features four players with more than 100 international caps: Modrić, Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, and Mateo Kovačić.
Ivan Perišić, 37, is another Croatian legend, having scored in both the 2018 semi-final win against England and the 2018 final defeat by France.
Defensively,
Joško Gvardiol returns after recovering from a broken shin, with Dalić confirming the Manchester City defender would start the opener.
Gvardiol's fitness is the biggest positive in Croatia's pre-match team news — his absence in recent months had been a significant concern for Dalić's defensive structure.
In qualifying, Croatia won seven of their eight matches, with only a 0-0 draw in Prague against Czechia preventing a perfect record.
Head-to-Head: A Rivalry That Cut Deep in 2018
These two nations carry real tournament history into Dallas.
England vs Croatia — Major Tournament History (last 4 meetings)
| Match | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| EURO 2020, Group Stage | 1–0 | England |
| 2018–19 UEFA Nations League (A) | 2–1 | Croatia |
| 2018–19 UEFA Nations League (A) | 0–0 | Draw |
| 2018 World Cup Semi-final (AET) | 2–1 | Croatia |
The most recent major tournament meeting came at EURO 2020, when a Raheem Sterling goal at Wembley sealed a 1-0 England win. Before that, Croatia's 2-1 extra-time victory in the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Russia remains England's most painful memory from this fixture.
Croatia have been unbeaten in their World Cup group matches across the last two editions — four wins and two draws — conceding only two goals in that span.
England's set-piece threat, however, is a known weapon capable of breaking down structured defensive blocks. Croatia will need to discipline their shape from the first whistle.
Key Tactical Matchups to Watch
Rice vs Modrić at the midfield pivot. Declan Rice's role as England's defensive fulcrum is directly countered by Modrić's positional intelligence.
Modrić completed 175 line-breaking passes across the last two World Cup tournaments — 50 more than any other player
— meaning Rice will have no margin for error in midfield press coverage.
Kane vs Gvardiol. After months out with a fractured shin,
Gvardiol returned to action for Manchester City on May 14 and Dalić confirmed he will start the opener.
Facing Kane at less than full match sharpness — even if physically fit — represents a structural risk for Croatia's backline.
Bellingham's positioning.
Thomas Tuchel has looked to bring Premier League style and intensity to the England national team
, and Bellingham's drives from deep into Croatia's shape will be central to creating second-ball situations in the final third.
What the Odds Say
Pre-match market data from CBS Sports placed England at −143, implying roughly a 59% win probability. The draw sits at +260 and Croatia at +375 — the latter representing the longest pre-match price for an outright Croatia win in a major tournament in years, reflective of the age and continuity concerns around Dalić's squad.
Markets on total goals, first scorer (Kane prominent), and correct score are live at the WeeBet World Cup 2026 hub. The full live match page — including in-play event contracts, live score tracking, and position data — is at /events/world-cup-2026/match/world-cup-2026-england-vs-croatia-2026-06-17.
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Group L Context
England and Croatia share Group L with Panama and Ghana.
After this Dallas opener, England face Ghana in Boston on June 23 and finish the group stage against Panama in New Jersey on June 27.
Croatia follow this match with Panama in Toronto on June 24 before closing out against Ghana in Philadelphia on June 27.
A win here not only delivers three crucial points — it sets the psychological tone for the group.
Croatia have won only one of their last five World Cup opening matches
, which underscores the opportunity England have to establish early dominance in the standings.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does England vs Croatia kick off at the 2026 World Cup?
England vs Croatia kicks off on June 17, 2026 at 20:00 UTC (4:00 p.m. ET) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (WeeBet live data).
The match is Group L, Match 22 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Who is favoured to win England vs Croatia?
England are the clear pre-match favourites.
Pre-match moneylines set England at −143, the draw at +260, and Croatia at +375.
Live contract pricing may shift at kickoff — track current market positions on the WeeBet match page.
What is the head-to-head record between England and Croatia at major tournaments?
The four major tournament meetings include a Croatia extra-time victory in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, two Nations League results, and England's 1-0 win at EURO 2020 courtesy of a Raheem Sterling goal.
Croatia lead the major tournament head-to-head with two wins to England's one.
Who are the key players to watch in this match?
For England: Harry Kane (goals), Declan Rice (midfield control), and Jude Bellingham (creative driving runs). For Croatia:
Luka Modrić remains the midfield magician capable of controlling tempo
, while
Ivan Perišić, who scored in the 2018 semi-final against England, remains a veteran threat in attack.
About the author
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