EnglandvsCroatia

England saw off Croatia 4–2. Goalscorers — England: H. Kane 12' (pen), H. Kane 42', J. Bellingham 47', M. Rashford 85'; Croatia: M. Baturina 36', P. Musa 45'+5.

England met Croatia in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. It is one of the six matches in Group L, where the four sides each play three games and the top two advance directly to the Round of 32. With the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also progressing, points here carry real weight from the opening whistle.

England go in ranked 4th in the FIFA World Ranking to Croatia's 11th — a gap of 7 places that is narrow enough that form, fitness and the occasion may matter more than seeding. Both nations come through UEFA, so familiarity between the two football cultures could shape how the game is played.

England approach the 2026 World Cup with a squad widely regarded as one of the most talented generations in the country's history, yet still haunted by near-misses at recent major tournaments. Runners-up at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, and semifinalists at the 2018 World Cup, the Three Lions have consistently been among the last teams standing without quite crossing the finish line.

Croatia continue to defy expectations as one of the smallest nations to consistently compete at the highest level of international football. With a population of just four million, the Vatreni have produced an astonishing concentration of world-class talent and achieved results that far exceed what might be expected from a country of their size.

England: England won their sole World Cup in 1966, famously beating West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley, with Geoff Hurst scoring a hat-trick that included the controversial third goal. Croatia: Croatia reached the World Cup final in 2018 in Russia, losing to France 4-2, and finished third in 2022 in Qatar.

The match is scheduled at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, United States. Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 08:00 PM (04:00 PM ET).