England vs Croatia LIVE: World Cup 2026 match stream, confirmed team news, lineups and fan reaction | OneFootball

The wait is over as Three Lions get Group L underway in Dallas

England finally begin their World Cup campaign tonight. The Three Lions head to Dallas as they kick off Group L against very familiar opponents at the home of the Cowboys. It is a tough opening fixture for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who warmed up for the tournament with wins over Costa Rica and New Zealand. Croatia are one of England’s biggest rivals of the 21st century, defeating them in extra time of the 2018 semi-finals - 10 years after denying them a spot at Euro 2008.

England exacted revenge in their opening game of Euro 2020, but know they are in for another difficult test against Zlatko Dalic’s men, World Cup specialists who continually punch well above their weight and also finished third in Qatar four years ago. Croatia are looking to make one last run with most of a golden generation led by the 40-year-old Luka Modric.

Jude Bellingham starts over Morgan Rogers at No10 for England in a huge call from Tuchel, with Bukayo Saka and Marc Guehi on the bench as Noni Madueke, John Stones, Ezri Konsa and Anthony Gordon all get the nod. Follow England vs Croatia live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Dallas Stadium.

Live updates

Kovacic left out by Croatia in shock

An interesting starting XI from Croatia, to say the least.

The biggest surprise omission is in midfield, where Mateo Kovacic is left out.

Instead it’s Inter Milan’s Petar Sucic and one-time Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic who line up alongside captain Luka Modric.

Highly-rated Tottenham youngster Luka Vuskovic starts at the back alongside Kovacic’s Manchester City team-mate Josko Gvardiol.

Ex-Spurs star Ivan Perisic is in attack, where, as expected, Martin Baturina and FC Dallas forward Petar Musa are preferred to the more experienced pair of Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramaric.

PA

Croatia lineup

Croatia XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Sucic, Modric, Pasalic, Perisic; Baturina, Musa

No surprises from Tuchel

Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Dallas Stadium

So, Thomas Tuchel does as expected and names the same team that started as England beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Orlando in their final warm-up game a week ago.

That means starts for Madueke (over Saka) and Stones and Konsa (instead of Guehi).

Bellingham, Rice and Anderson make up the midfield trio everyone expected to see - but are playing together from the start for only the second time.

Getty

England lineup

The England team is out and as expected...

England XI: Pickford; James, Stones, Konsa, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Subs: D Henderson, Guehi, Saka, Rashford, J Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Watkins, Eze, Toney, Trafford, Spence, Quansah

PA

Croatia inspect pitch at Dallas Stadium

The Croatian contingent arrive and survey the pitch at Dallas Stadium a little earlier on, led by legendary captain Luka Modric, who is set to pull just one cap shy of the 200-mark today.

One of a number of all-time greats making his World Cup swansong this summer, along with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, among many others.

Still as influential as ever, aged 40.

Getty

Getty

PA

Zlatko Dalic: Croatia won't just defend against England

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic - who has been in charge of the national team since 2017 - has dismissed any suggestion that his side will simply park the bus in Dallas today.

He has also sought to play down the significance of a fixture against England.

"A tough match awaits us, the start of the World Cup, and the toughest opponent possible,” Dalic said yesterday.

“We've prepared well, and I'd be happy if we show that tomorrow.

"England is an important match, but not a decisive one.

“We know their quality - they are dangerous, especially down the wings, and they have one of the best strikers in the world.

“We will give our best, we won't just defend, we want more. That's how we prepared."

PA

England set to keep same team from Costa Rica game

The BBC are reporting that Thomas Tuchel is indeed set to stick with the same England team that lined up in their final World Cup warm-up friendly last week - the 3-0 win over Costa Rica in Orlando.

That means Jude Bellingham over Morgan Rogers at No10, Noni Madueke instead of Bukayo Saka on the right, Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford down the left and a John Stones-Ezri Konsa centre-back partnership, with Marc Guehi on the bench.

It will be Jordan Pickford in goal as usual, with Reece James and Nico O’Reilly as the full-backs.

Declan Rice will be joined in the midfield engine room by Elliot Anderson, with captain Harry Kane of course leading the line.

Interesting. The lack of Guehi is proving really puzzling to a lot of England fans.

Surely England’s best defender, though Tuchel seems to prefer the Stones-Konsa fit.

England and Croatia fans on friendly terms

Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Dallas Stadium

Hello from Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where it is seriously hot and I’ve bought a jumper in case the in-stadium air-con gets a bit too chilly.

England and Croatia fans are friends at the moment. Let's check back in about four hours' time.

The Standard

Tuchel warns of 'remarkable' Croatia threat in 'difficult' first test

No England fan needs reminding of the enduring threats that Croatia possess and, as expected, Thomas Tuchel is not taking the challenge lightly as his side bid to make a dream start in Group L ahead of meetings with Ghana (June 23) and Panama (June 27) in Boston and New York respectively.

“It is a very difficult start,” Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference.

“It is an experienced team, an experienced coach, in tournament knockout football. It's a top football nation and a very strong opponent.

“The centre of gravity in their game has dropped a bit, into a back three, we expect.

“From a midfield three, which was the core of Croatia, it has only Kovacic and Modric still there. They're ­playing in a midfield two now.

“They play with fluid No 10s and wing-backs. But the core is still Modric and Kovacic.

“Then they have Perisic, who is always a threat with the crosses.

“That is one of the most dangerous crossers in world football, maybe – left foot, right foot, he does not even need space to put a cross in. It is ­remarkable. And they are strong in set-pieces.”

Tuchel explains surprise Chalobah call-up after Livramento injury

As mentioned, England’s preparations for their opening contest in Group L were disrupted by a calf injury suffered by Tino Livramento in training that is serious enough for the Newcastle right-back to have been ruled out of his first World Cup and flown back home.

While Reece James is widely expected to be Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice right-back at this tournament, it was nevertheless a huge blow to lose a talented young player for the duration before a ball has even been kicked in anger.

Teams at the World Cup are permitted to replace an injured player up to 24 hours before their first game, provided it’s a new issue and his replacement is sought from the 55-man longlist submitted to FIFA last month.

Tuchel chose James’ versatile Chelsea team-mate Trevoh Chalobah as Livramento’s replacement, a decision that some have criticised as they instead championed the cases of the likes of Luke Shaw, Lewis Hall, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire.

“We ⁠called Trevoh Chalobah up because then we can free up Jarell Quansah and Djed Spence on both sides as full-backs,” Tuchel explained on Tuesday.

“Trevoh comes as a centre-back alternative and gives us full coverage in the back four.”

Chalobah will join the group after tonight’s game in Dallas.