England kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday, with kick-off set for 4 PM Eastern Time.
The fixture carries real weight. Croatia eliminated England at the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Moscow, winning 2-1 after extra time. That result in Russia ended a run of genuine English optimism and helped define the Zlatko Dalic era in Croatian football.
England arrive at this tournament without Tino Livramento. The Southampton full-back was ruled out ahead of the squad’s departure with a calf injury, and Trevoh Chalobah has been called up as his replacement. Chalobah brings Champions League experience and has filled in competently when selected for club and country, so the disruption is manageable, but it is still an adjustment on the right side of defence.
Croatia are a side navigating transition. Luka Modric is still in the squad at 40, but the generation that carried Croatia to the 2018 final and the 2022 third-place finish in Qatar has thinned. Joško Gvardiol and Lovro Majer now carry much of the creative and defensive responsibility. Dalic has kept the team competitive through disciplined structure rather than individual brilliance, and that approach remains the template here.
Group L also includes Ghana and Panama, who play their opener later on Tuesday at BMO Field in Toronto at 7 PM ET. Given the experience gap between the top two teams and the rest of the group, the England-Croatia result will shape the pathway to the round of 32 for both sides. Winning early means easier preparation and reduced pressure going into the second match.
England’s recent tournament history is a study in near-misses. A 2021 Euro final loss to Italy, a 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit to France, and a 2024 Euro final defeat to Spain have all kept the prize just out of reach. The squad coming into this tournament includes several players who experienced those defeats and are carrying the determination to go further.
Croatia will not concede the role of underdog. Dalic’s teams have consistently outperformed expectations by staying compact and taking their moments. England should start as favourites, but the history of this fixture makes it far from straightforward.
Kick-off is at 4 PM ET on June 17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Fox Sports carries the match in the United States, and ITV has broadcast rights in the United Kingdom.
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