England vs Croatia June 17, 2026 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas | 4:00 PM ET
It was Moscow. July 11, 2018. England's first World Cup semi-final in 28 years. The game they were supposed to win.
Croatia equalised in the 68th minute through Ivan Perišić. Then, in extra time, Mario Mandžukić scored the winner. England were eliminated. The dream was over. Players and fans wept.
Eight years later, these two teams meet again — this time in the group stage, this time in Texas, this time with both squads in very different phases of their development.
For England, it is a chance to open their World Cup campaign on the right note under Thomas Tuchel. For Croatia, it is a chance to show that Luka Modrić's final World Cup still has something to offer.
The Setting
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is one of the largest and most spectacular venues in the tournament — capacity 94,000, with a retractable dome, temperature control, and a screen so enormous it has become part of football culture in its own right.
It will host one of the semi-finals on July 14. But on June 17, it opens with one of the group stage's most loaded fixtures.
England's fanbase will travel in enormous numbers. This is a fixture with genuine history behind it. And the stakes — a winning start to a World Cup campaign — could not feel more significant for either side.
England — The Favourites
Win probability: 59% (Draw: 23%, Croatia win: 19%)
England arrive at this tournament with a 100% qualifying record and as the third-favourites to win the entire competition. Under Thomas Tuchel, they have depth, quality, and a clear tactical identity. The group — Croatia, Ghana, Panama — is entirely manageable. But World Cups are decided by moments, and England know better than anyone that Croatia do not follow the script.
Key players for England:
Harry Kane will lead the attack. At 32, England's all-time leading scorer and captain remains the most reliable finisher the Three Lions have. His opening-game record at tournaments is strong — he scored in England's group opener against Tunisia in 2018 and against Croatia at Euro 2020.
Jude Bellingham will be central to everything England do. His ability to arrive late into the box, drive through pressure, and win decisive moments makes him the match-winner Tuchel will rely on. He scored in extra time against Slovakia at Euro 2024 to save England's tournament.
Bukayo Saka offers the width and directness that will be crucial against Croatia's organised defensive structure. His ability to isolate full-backs and deliver or cut inside makes him England's most consistent wide threat.
Declan Rice is the defensive foundation. Against Croatia's midfield — still built around intelligence and positional discipline — Rice's ability to win the ball and distribute quickly will be essential.
Croatia — The Last Dance
Win probability: 19%
Croatia's golden generation is fading. The squad that reached the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 semi-final is now ageing, with several key figures past their best. But one name keeps the flame burning: Luka Modrić.
At 40 years old, Modrić plays what is almost certainly his final World Cup — a symmetry with Ronaldo and Messi that gives the tournament a quietly elegiac quality. The Real Madrid legend is no longer capable of dominating 90-minute matches the way he once did, but his intelligence, his passing range, and his ability to control the tempo of a game remain extraordinary.
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was unusually honest in his assessment of the draw: "This is definitely the hardest group. England vs Croatia will be the strongest match of the entire first round."
He is right. And for Croatia, everything starts here.
Key players for Croatia:
Luka Modrić — the heart of everything. Even at 40, his reading of the game gives Croatia a tactical quality that younger sides cannot match. If he can dictate the tempo against England's pressing, Croatia can be competitive.
Andrej Kramarić — Croatia's most reliable striker, the top scorer in qualifying. His movement inside the box and his ability to finish from tight angles make him England's primary defensive concern.
Mateo Kovačić — the Manchester City midfielder has missed much of 2025-26 with injury but is expected to be fit. His energy and ball-carrying give Croatia a dynamic option in midfield.
Luka Vušković — the young Tottenham loanee who scored in Croatia's recent friendly win over Colombia. The 20-year-old represents the future of Croatian football — and may play a role in this tournament.
Head-to-Head History
| Year | Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | World Cup semi-final | Croatia 2–1 England (aet) |
| 2020 | Euro group stage | England 1–0 Croatia |
| 2022 | Nations League | Croatia 1–1 England |
| 2022 | Nations League | England 0–3 Croatia |
The recent record is mixed. England have the superior squad and the better current form. But Croatia have beaten England at the moment that mattered most, and they do not shrink from big occasions.
This will be their 12th meeting. England lead the all-time head-to-head but the psychological weight of Moscow 2018 remains.
Tactical Battle
The key battleground will be midfield. England's athleticism — Rice protecting the defence, Bellingham driving forward — against Croatia's intelligence — Modrić controlling tempo, Kovačić carrying the ball.
England's wide players will be crucial. If Saka and whatever winger Tuchel starts can isolate Croatia's full-backs in wide areas, England should create the opportunities their quality demands. Croatia, as they age, have become more vulnerable to direct, pacy attackers.
Croatia will look to slow the game down. They do not want England to impose their pressing game. Modrić will try to manage the tempo from deep, frustrating England's attempts to play vertical football. Their defensive organisation — compact, disciplined, hard to break down — has served them well across multiple tournaments.
Set pieces are an England weapon. Kane, Bellingham, and others are aerial threats. Croatia conceded from set pieces in the 2022 World Cup and England will be aware of the vulnerability.
The Prediction
England win. Not comfortably — Croatia do not lose comfortably — but England's quality across the squad should be decisive.
The most likely outcome is 1–0 or 2–1 — a narrow England victory that feels harder work than it should. Kane scoring. Bellingham creating something. Croatia pressing with Modrić in the final moments.
For Croatia, a draw would feel like a result. For England, anything less than a win would set the wrong tone for the rest of the group.
Prediction: England 2–1 Croatia
Full Group L Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 17 | England vs. Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington | 4:00 PM |
| June 17 | Ghana vs. Panama | BMO Field, Toronto | 7:00 PM |
| June 23 | England vs. Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Boston | TBD |
| June 23 | Croatia vs. Panama | BMO Field, Toronto | 7:00 PM |
| June 27 | Panama vs. England | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | TBD |
| June 27 | Croatia vs. Ghana | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 5:00 PM |
Follow every match in Group L live at WC2026 Stats.