England vs Croatia preview
Match details
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026
- Matchday 1: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
- Kick-off time: 11 pm
- Venue: Dallas Stadium
Why this England vs Croatia match matters
It’s now eight years since that emotional meeting between England and Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In that 2018 semifinal, Kieran Trippier had scored an early free kick to elicit England’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966, but Croatia had other thoughts. Ivan Perisic equalised mid-second half to force the game into extra time before Mario Mandzukic broke the Three Lions’ resolve to send Croatia to their first-ever final and register their best result despite losing to France in the final.
This one opens a new campaign in which Thomas Tuchel’s side arrive as genuine contenders to end that 60-year wait finally.
England’s qualifying campaign was a statement of intent. Eight wins from eight, 22 goals scored, none conceded, a perfect record that places them among the most dominant European qualifiers in the competition’s history. Tuchel, appointed after England’s underwhelming Euro 2024 final defeat under Gareth Southgate, has rebuilt the squad with a clear attacking identity and genuine depth across every position. Harry Kane arrives as captain at his third World Cup, equaling the record set by Billy Wright, and in career-best form, having scored 58 goals across all competitions for Bayern Munich this season. The expectation in England is no longer cautious hope. It is a genuine belief that this is the strongest squad to travel to a World Cup since at least 1990.
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Meanwhile, Croatia has largely lived in the shadows with a habit of outperforming expectations at this level.
Their qualifying campaign was similarly emphatic with seven wins from eight, 26 goals scored, just four conceded. But the headline story heading into Dallas is not about form. It is about Luka Modric’s cheekbone. At 40, in what is almost certainly his last World Cup, the Croatian captain has been confirmed in the squad despite a recent fracture, and the question of whether he can start, and for how long, will shape everything that happens in this opener.
England vs Croatia head-to-head record stats – Previous five meetings
June 13, 2021 – England 1-0 Croatia
Nov 18, 2018 – England 2-1 Croatia
Oct 12, 2018 – Croatia 0-0 England
July 11, 2018 – Croatia 2-1 England
Sep 9, 2009 – England 5-1 Croatia
England recent form – WWLDW
England’s last five matches
June 10, 26 – England 3-0 Costa Rica
June 6, 26 – England 1-0 New Zealand
Mar 31, 26 – England 0-1 Japan
Mar 27, 26 – England 1-1 Uruguay
Nov 16, 25 – Albania 0-2 England
Goals scored – 7
Goals conceded – 1
Key trends from recent matches
England have won three games and drawn one of their last five matches, which include two back-to-back victories over Costa Rica and New Zealand earlier in the month, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Three Lions have managed to score at least a goal in nine of their last ten games and have been relatively good defensively, conceding only one goal in their last five outings.
Croatia’s recent form – WLLWW
Croatia’s last five matches
June 7, 26 – Croatia 2-1 Slovenia
June 2, 26 – Croatia 0-2 Belgium
April 1, 26 – Brazil 3-1 Croatia
Mar 27, 26 – Colombia 1-2 Croatia
Nov 17, 25 – Montenegro 2-3 Croatia
Goals scored – 8
Goals conceded – 7
Key trends from recent matches
Croatia arrives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with mixed fortunes after beating Slovenia 2-1 and a 2-0 loss to Belgium. Earlier in April, they lost 3-1 to Brazil in another build-up but are relatively in good form with seven victories and a draw in their last ten matches. However, they have struggled upfront, scoring only eight goals, but have relatively kept their backline, conceding only seven goals in that streak.
England Team News
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has confirmed that he has shaken off an Achilles problem and is fit to feature, but just in case a late fitness test sidelines him, his clubmate Noni Madueke is an able replacement. Otherwise, England coach Thomas Tuchel has enough in his arsenal, Reece James, who had an injury-prone season.
Key players: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) captains England at his third World Cup, equaling Billy Wright’s record, and arrives having scored 58 goals across all competitions this season, the best individual goalscoring campaign of his career. He scored eight of England’s 22 qualifying goals and has netted eight times in 11 career World Cup appearances. Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham can come in as a central attacker, as a false nine or attacking midfielder.
Croatia
Injuries and doubts: Luka Modric is a doubt after fracturing his cheekbone, while Borna Sosa and Duje Caleta-Car carry knock concerns heading into the tournament, with Caleta-Car listed as a doubt. Croatia otherwise has a relatively settled squad with all key attacking options available.
Key players: Luka Modric (AC Milan), 40, remains the heart of the team even amid his injury concerns and has 196 caps, the fourth-most of any player in history. His vision and tempo control are central to everything Croatia do in possession.
Predicted lineups
England predicted XI: Jordan Pickford – Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Nico O’Reilly – Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson – Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon – Harry Kane.
Croatia predicted XI: Dominik Livakovic – Josip Stanisic, Josko Gvardiol, Marin Pongracic, Borna Sosa – Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic – Ivan Perisic, Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric – Ante Budimir.
Best betting markets for England vs Croatia
Match winner – England to win
Over/under goals – Over 2.5
Both teams to score – no
Anytime goalscorer – Harry Kane
Where to bet on England vs Croatia
England vs Croatia prediction
Best bet – England 1X & BTTS
Correct score prediction – 2-1
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