England vs Croatia Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
60 years of hurt since their triumph at FIFA World Cup 1966, England kick off their 2026 campaign against 2018 runners-up and 2022's third-placed side Croatia.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
England preview: Big calls by Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel has made some huge calls in his squad selection for this tournament. Big names such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Adam Wharton, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden have been left out by the German coach.
Although his reign in charge last year began poorly, Tuchel did manage to find a tune in the autumn, though, with a 5-0 demolition of Serbia in Belgrade a standout performance and result as they qualified with a 100% record without conceding - albeit lacking consistent fluency in the final third and against poor opposition.
England's preparation for the tournament has seen them edge past New Zealand in what was a very low key affair before a much more encouraging performance to hammer Costa Rica by three goals to nil.
Croatia preview: Always awkward Croats
Zlatko Dalic and his Croatia side have a familiar feel to them as they head into another FIFA World Cup with 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric skippering the side. They remain one of the toughest teams to face in international football.
They comfortably qualified ahead of Czechia back in the autumn before beginning the calendar year of 2026 with an encouraging 2-1 defeat of Colombia before then succumbing to a 3-1 loss to five-time world champions Brazil.
Croatia come into the tournament on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in their first pre-tournament friendly before then edging past Slovenia by two goals to one.
England team news: Big call at the back
Reports in the build-up to the game have suggested that Thomas Tuchel has made a big call at the back with John Stones expected to partner Ezri Konsa at the expense of Marc Guehi, while Jude Bellingham will start ahead of Morgan Rogers.
Given that Bukayo Saka has been on an individual training regime to boost his fitness, it would appear as though the eleven that started against Costa Rica will be the side that takes to the field against Croatia. Tino Livramento has had to withdraw at the last moment, replaced by Trevoh Chalobah in the squad.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Croatia team news: Slight fitness issues
Zlatko Dalic has discussed the concerns he has over the fitness of key trio Josko Gvardiol, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic. Manchester City duo Gvardiol and Kovacic have struggled with injuries all season, while Modric missed much of the end of the campaign due to injury. However, all three do appear to be fully fit.
It is an experienced core and, despite their fitness issues, they will still be expected to start alongside the likes of their other stalwarts such as Dominik Livakovic, Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir and, seemingly, even still Ivan Perisic.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Livakovic; Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol, Stanisic; Kovacic, Modric, Mari. Pasalic; Kramaric, Budimir, Perisic
Unavailable:
Questionable:
England’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Jordan Pickford ($4.8m) – Goalkeeper
Nico O’Reilly ($4.7m) – Defender
Harry Kane ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Harry Kane
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Harry Kane
Free kicks: Declan Rice, Reece James
Corners: Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka
Croatia’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Josko Gvardiol ($5.0m) – Defender
Luka Vuskovic ($3.7m) – Defender
Luka Modric ($6.2m) – Midfielder
Matchday 1 captain pick: Luke Modric
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Luka Modric, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perisic
Free kicks: Luka Modric
Corners: Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic
Key stats
- The only previous FIFA World Cup meeting between England and Croatia came in the 2018 semi‑finals, where Croatia advanced to the final with a 2-1 extra‑time win in Moscow. Kieran Trippier scored first for England before Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic completed the Croatian comeback.
- The nations have also met twice in the UEFA European Championship, England winning both group games – 4-2 in 2004 in Lisbon and 1-0 in 2021 in London.
- Overall, England have won six of the teams’ 11 matches, and Croatia three with two draws.
- Champions in 1966, England are making their 17th FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026, continuing a streak of eight consecutive qualifications – their longest ever.
- The Three Lions were the first European team to earn a spot at the 2026 finals, having qualified with two games to spare courtesy of a 5-0 victory over Latvia in Riga on 14 October 2025 which ensured they finished top of their qualifying group. They closed out the campaign with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches — a feat matched only in Europe by Norway — and stood alone as the only European nation not to concede a single goal.
- England have lost their opening match in just one of their last eight FIFA World Cup appearances (W4 D3).
- Croatia are appearing at the FIFA World Cup for the seventh time in the eight editions held since their debut in 1998.
- The Croatians have graced the podium in each of the last two tournaments, finishing runners-up in 2018 and clinching third place in 2022.
- Luka Modric is set to become the first Croatian to line up at five editions of FIFA’s global showpiece. Widely regarded as the nation’s greatest-ever player, if he features here, it will be his 20th appearance at the tournament.
- Croatia have won their opening match in one of their last five FIFA World Cup participations (D1 L3).
- Zlatko Dalic is leading Croatia at a third consecutive FIFA World Cup and is the only person to have coached the nation at more than one edition.
- Jordan Henderson is participating in his fourth FIFA World Cup, equalling the England record previously held solely by Bobby Charlton. Henderson also celebrates his 36th birthday on the day of this match. The only English players to make a FIFA World Cup appearance on their birthday are Roger Hunt (1966) and Frank Lampard (2006) — both aged 28.
- At 19 years 113 days, Luka Vuskovic could become the first teenager ever to make a FIFA World Cup appearance for Croatia.
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England vs Croatia prediction
Croatia have been a thorn in the side of England for many years, with the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final coming just over a decade after the Croats pipped England to UEFA EURO 2008 qualification. Tuchel is under immense pressure because, with the progress made by Gareth Southgate, only winning the trophy this summer will be deemed a success for the UEFA EURO 2020 and UEFA EURO 2024 runners-up. England are slight favourites but, with Tuchel's style, the heat and Croatia's resilience, it is expected to be a close contest in terms of the scoreline, especially with the resilience of the Croats, in Texas.
England vs Croatia betting tip: England to win & under 3.5 goals
