England and Croatia are set to clash in the opening round of the World Cup 2026 group stage. This exciting match kicks off on Wednesday, June 17, at 9 PM (BST) at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States.
This fixture reignites a compelling modern rivalry between the two nations. Historically, England has shown dominance, remaining unbeaten against Croatia in their last three encounters. This prediction for England vs. Croatia suggests a keenly contested affair, with both teams eager to secure a crucial opening victory in the tournament.
Find out where to watch the match and what our expert predictions are, as well as the expected lineups for today’s encounter.
Match Overview - England vs. Croatia
- England starts their World Cup 2026 journey with strong momentum, winning eight of their last ten international games.
- Croatia also enters the tournament with a solid record, securing seven wins in their previous ten matches.
- This significant opening match sees England with a historical edge, remaining unbeaten in their last three encounters against Croatia, with two wins and two draws.
Head-to-Head Record
- In their 11 all-time head-to-head encounters, England have established a clear dominance, securing six victories compared to Croatia’s three, with two matches ending in a draw.
- The Three Lions are in formidable shape leading up to the World Cup, boasting an impressive record of eight wins from their last ten international games.
- Croatia also arrive with strong momentum, having successfully won seven of their previous ten matches, showing they are a competitive side.
- Recent games between the two nations have been notably low-scoring affairs, with an average of only 1.75 goals per match across their last four meetings.
England's Form and Performance
England enters the World Cup with strong momentum, having secured eight wins from their last ten international matches. Their qualification campaign was dominant, including emphatic 5-0 victories against Latvia and Serbia. This highlights their capability to control games and score often.
Recent friendly matches served as good preparation, with England picking up comfortable wins over Costa Rica and New Zealand. However, a 1-1 draw against Uruguay and a 1-0 loss to Japan show they can face difficulties.
The squad is in a robust position for this opening fixture, with only two players, Chalobah and Livramento, missing the game. The team is at full strength, offering a stable foundation for the crucial England vs Croatia encounter.
Croatia's Form and Performance
Croatia arrives with a respectable record, securing seven wins in their last ten matches. Their World Cup qualification was impressive, marked by high-scoring victories over the Czech Republic and Montenegro, showcasing their attacking strength.
However, recent friendly results have been inconsistent, with losses to Belgium and Brazil. These defeats against top-tier nations raise questions about their ability to handle the tournament’s toughest opponents and expose potential defensive frailties.
A major advantage for Croatia is that they report no injuries ahead of this fixture. Having a fully fit squad is a significant boost, allowing them to field their strongest lineup for this vital opening match.
England vs. Croatia Prediction: Three Lions to Dominate Early
England enters this World Cup opener in sharp form, holding a strong historical advantage over Croatia. Unbeaten in their last three head-to-head encounters, the "Game – Double Chance – Full Time – 1X" market offers a solid option.
Croatia, while in good form, has shown vulnerability against top-tier opponents. Historically, matches between these teams are cagey, so the "Goals – Over/Under – Half Time – Under 1.5" market seems a plausible scenario for this group stage clash.
Given England’s strong momentum and attacking quality, they will likely assert early dominance. Thus, our main prediction is for England to lead at half-time, setting the game’s tone.
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| Double Chance | England to win or draw | |
| Over/Under | Under 1.5 goals in the first half | |
The odds mentioned were collected during the writing of this prediction and may change. Always check with the bookmaker for the latest information.
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| Double Chance | England to win or draw | |
| Over/Under | Under 1.5 goals in the first half | |
Where to Watch England vs. Croatia
Here’s where to watch England vs. Croatia live:
- TV: STV Scotland, ITV 1 (GBR), ITV X (GBR), STV (GBR), UTV (GBR)
- Streaming: STV Player, BBC Radio 5 Live (GBR)
England vs. Croatia Predicted Lineups
As this World Cup 2026 fixture approaches, the probable England lineup and Croatia lineup are taking shape. With no significant injury concerns for either team, both managers have the luxury of a full squad to choose from. This provides plenty of tactical flexibility as they look to find the right balance and strategy to gain an early advantage in the competition, making the final selections particularly interesting for this opening-round clash.
England
R. Pickford; N. O’Reilly, E. Konsa, R. James, J. Stones; B. Saka, E. Anderson, D. Rice, J. Gordon, J. Bellingham; H. Kane.
Manager: Thomas Tuchel.
Croatia
D. Livaković; J. Gvardiol, L. Vušković, J. Šutalo; I. Perišić, P. Sučić, J. Stanišić, A. Kramarić, M. Kovačić, L. Modrić; A. Budimir.
Manager: Zlatko Dalić.
Match Details
Here are the match details:
- Match: England vs. Croatia
- Competition: World Cup 2026
- Date: 17/06/2026
- Kick-off: 9 PM (BST)
- Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, United States
- Broadcast: ITV 1 (GBR), STV Scotland, ITV X (GBR), STV (GBR), UTV (GBR), STV Player
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