England vs Croatia Preview. England open their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L campaign against Croatia at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 (22:00 SAST (Wednesday, 17 June 2026)). Tuchel’s Three Lions won all eight qualifiers. Croatia are major tournament specialists who reached the 2018 final and 2022 third-place finish. Our prediction: England to win. Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.
Match details
| Field | Detail |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup — Group L opener |
| Date & kick-off | Wednesday, 17 June 2026 at 22:00 SAST |
| Venue | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA |
| Group L | England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama |
| Where to watch | DSTV/GOTV |
England’s World Cup ambition vs Croatia’s tournament pedigree
England arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup carrying the weight of an unbeaten qualification campaign and the pressure of a football public that has waited 60 years for global glory. Thomas Tuchel’s side secured eight wins from eight in qualifying, keeping a clean sheet in every match. By those metrics, the Three Lions are one of the most convincing qualifiers in European football.
Yet pre-tournament warm-up results tempered expectations. Unconvincing performances against Uruguay, Japan, and New Zealand raised questions about England’s ability to break down organised defensive opposition. A more settled performance in the final friendly against Costa Rica — where Tuchel fielded a stronger lineup — provided some reassurance. England have traditionally started World Cups well, losing only once in their last eight opening matches. Harry Kane leads the attack as captain, with Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice the creative and defensive midfield anchors.
Croatia are perennial overachievers at major tournaments. Runners-up in 2018, third place in 2022 — Zlatko Dalić’s Vatreni consistently punch above their weight on the global stage. They qualified impressively, dropping just two points in their campaign. Their pre-tournament form was less convincing — consecutive defeats against Brazil and Belgium exposed defensive vulnerabilities, before a narrow win over Slovenia restored some confidence. Croatia have conceded in each of their last six matches, which is a notable concern against England’s attacking quality.
The 2018 World Cup semi-final remains the defining recent chapter of this rivalry: Croatia’s extra-time victory that denied England a place in the final. England have since remained unbeaten in three subsequent meetings. The footballing narrative is rich and both sets of players will be aware of it.
Group L also features Ghana and Panama, who play each other on 18 June. A win here gives either England or Croatia early control of the group.
Team news and expected line-ups
England: Bukayo Saka remains a slight doubt after recent fitness issues. If he fails to start, Noni Madueke takes his place on the right wing. Jude Bellingham plays behind Kane. Declan Rice anchors the midfield. Anthony Gordon expected to feature in attack. John Stones and Ezri Konsa contest the centre-back positions. Jordan Pickford in goal.
Croatia: Fully fit squad available. Luka Modrić orchestrates from midfield alongside Mateo Kovačić. Ivan Perišić remains a key attacking outlet. Petar Musa is expected to start up front after his impressive MLS goalscoring form. Luka Vušković is expected to partner Joško Gvardiol in defence.
| England (4-2-3-1) | Croatia (4-3-3) |
| Pickford (GK) | Livakovic (GK) |
| James (RB) | Sutalo (RB) |
| Stones (CB) | Vuskovic (CB) |
| Konsa (CB) | Gvardiol (CB) |
| O’Reilly (LB) | Stanisic (LB) |
| Anderson (DM) | Modric (CM) |
| Rice (DM) | Kovacic (CM) |
| Madueke/Saka (RM) | Perisic (LM) |
| Bellingham (AM) | Sucic (RM) |
| Gordon (LM) | Baturina (AM) |
| Kane (ST) | Musa (ST) |
Key stats
- England: W8 D0 L0 in 2026 World Cup qualifying, keeping a clean sheet in every match.
- England: won 6 of last 8 matches in all competitions.
- England: lost only 1 of their last 8 World Cup opening matches.
- England: have not won the World Cup since 1966.
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): slight fitness doubt. Madueke expected if he does not start.
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): England captain and all-time leading scorer.
- Jude Bellingham: creative fulcrum of England’s midfield and attack.
- Croatia: runners-up at 2018 World Cup; third place at 2022 World Cup.
- Croatia: dropped just 2 points in 2026 qualifying.
- Croatia: conceded in each of their last 6 matches — defensive vulnerability flagged.
- Croatia: consecutive pre-tournament defeats to Brazil and Belgium; beat Slovenia narrowly.
- Luka Modric: 38 years old. One of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
- Petar Musa: MLS goalscoring form gives him the starting striker role ahead of others.
- H2H: Croatia beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final (extra time). England unbeaten in 3 meetings since.
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.
Head-to-head
The defining meeting remains the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Moscow, where Croatia came from behind to beat England 2-1 after extra time. England had led through a Kieran Trippier free kick. Croatia’s victory went on to reach the final, where they lost to France. England have since beaten Croatia in three subsequent meetings at Euro 2020 (1-0) and the UEFA Nations League, and are unbeaten in those encounters.
| Date | Result |
| 13 June 2021 | England 1–0 Croatia (UEFA Euro 2020, Group stage) |
| 11 July 2018 | Croatia 2–1 England (World Cup semi-final, Moscow, a.e.t.) |
| 18 Nov 2018 | Spain (Nations League — confirm full record with editorial) |
Current form
| Team | Last 8 (all comps) |
| England | W W W W W W D W — 6 wins from 8 |
| Croatia | L L W — recent warm-ups vs Brazil (L), Belgium (L), Slovenia (W) |
Our prediction
England have greater depth across the pitch and arrive in better shape than Croatia despite the warm-up concerns. Tuchel’s qualifying record — eight wins, eight clean sheets — reflects a well-organised side. Kane, Bellingham, and Gordon should have enough quality to expose Croatia’s defensive vulnerabilities, which have been evident across their last six matches.
Croatia’s midfield — Modrić, Kovačić — remains one of the most technically accomplished partnerships in international football, and they have the experience to make the occasion difficult. Their tournament pedigree cannot be dismissed. However, consecutive losses to Brazil and Belgium ahead of this match suggest a side not yet at their best.
England have the quality advantage and the stronger recent record against this opposition. A competitive match, but England should take the points.
Our prediction: England to win.
Odds and markets
Odds correct at 2200hrs UTC on 17/06/26 and subject to change.
How to bet on SportPesa
- Open the England vs Croatia event page on SportPesa (link above).
- Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
- Enter your stake and place your bet.
Frequently asked questions
What time does England vs Croatia kick off?
Kick-off is at 22:00 SAST on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA.
What happened when England and Croatia last met?
Their most significant recent meeting was the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Moscow, where Croatia came from behind to beat England 2-1 after extra time. Since then, England have been unbeaten in three meetings, including a 1-0 victory at UEFA Euro 2020.
What group are England and Croatia in at World Cup 2026?
Both sides are in Group L alongside Ghana and Panama.
Has England won the World Cup?
England won the FIFA World Cup on home soil in 1966, defeating West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley. It remains their only World Cup title.
Who are England’s key players at World Cup 2026?
Harry Kane leads the attack as captain. Jude Bellingham is the creative fulcrum operating in the number 10 role. Declan Rice anchors the midfield. Bukayo Saka is a slight fitness doubt for the opener.
Who are Croatia’s key players at World Cup 2026?
Luka Modrić, 38, continues to orchestrate Croatia’s midfield in what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance. Mateo Kovačić partners him centrally. Petar Musa leads the attack after strong MLS form, with Ivan Perišić an experienced wide option.
READ ALSO : Mexico vs South Korea Prediction