England vs Croatiaprediction, odds, kickoff time & how to watch: 2026 World Cup

England vs Croatia is a Europe derby of sorts: familiar opponents from the same confederation. On paper this is the most lopsided it gets: England sit at 61% to Croatia's 15% per our model.

Tactically, England will want to lean on tournament experience to get at Croatia, whose lack of a top striker is the obvious pressure point. Going the other way, Croatia's tournament savvy could punish England if history of falling short goes unaddressed. It's the kind of trade-off that gets decided in the margins: set pieces, transitions, and who blinks first.

Keep an eye on Harry Kane (ST, Bayern Munich) and Luka Modrić (CM, AC Milan): the two most likely to decide it with a moment of quality. As a Matchday 1 fixture, it sets the tone for Group L: an early win is worth more than three points for the nerves.

England analysis → Croatia analysis →