England vs. Croatia: World Cup Match Preview, Latest Odds and Predictions 2026

England will face Croatia in a marquee Group L match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 17, 2026, at Dallas Stadium.

After falling short in the 2018 World Cup semifinals, the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals and the 2024 Euros final, The Three Lions enter a new era under new manager Thomas Tuchel with plenty of unfinished business.

England punched its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup by topping UEFA Group K with a perfect campaign. They capped off qualification with a dominant 5-0 win over Latvia, finishing unbeaten in eight matches without conceding a single goal.

England is among the tournament favorites at +700, trailing only France and Spain.

Despite having a new manager, it will rely on the same core that has turned them into an international powerhouse, including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.

After coming close on multiple major stages, this group has yet to get over the line, with the men’s team still searching for its first major international title in 60 years.

Croatia, on the other hand, has been one of the most successful teams in the modern era. They finished runner-up in 2018 and followed it up with a third-place finish in 2022. On top of that, they also reached the UEFA Nations League final in 2023. Even more impressively, Croatia has achieved this sustained success with a population of fewer than four million people.

Can they finally move past those near misses and heartbreaks to lift the trophy?