EnglandvsCroatia

This match is one of the 72 group-stage fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, pitting two of the four teams in Group L against each other. Every group plays six matches over roughly two weeks, with the top two finishers in each of the 12 groups advancing directly to the Round of 32 — where the knockout bracket begins. The eight best third-placed teams across all groups also progress, so even a third-place finish can be enough to keep a campaign alive.

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. Croatia continue to defy expectations as one of the smallest nations to consistently compete at the highest level of international football.

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 09:00 PM (17:00 ET).