England
4-3-3 expected XI
Upcoming
England vs Croatia — FIFA World Cup 2026
England
ENG
VS
Croatia
CRO
June 26, 2026
19:00 ET
MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey, USA
Capacity: 82,500
England arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 16 previous appearances, their best result being Winners (1966). Croatia have 6 appearances on football's biggest stage, with a best finish of Third place (1998, 2022). Both sides qualified via UEFA Group I winners and UEFA Group H runners-up respectively. England and Croatia both belong to Union of European Football Associations, meaning they have competed within the same continental structure — though World Cup group stage draws make this fixture unpredictable.
Expected Lineups & Formation
Projected starting XIs, tactical shapes, and squad depth for England vs Croatia.
Tactical Formation Diagram
Hover or tap an expected starter to open the full player profile and compare both tactical systems.
England 4-3-3 4-3-3 Croatia
1 Jordan Pickford 
2 Trent Alexander-Arnold 
5 John Stones 
6 Harry Maguire 
3 Luke Shaw 
4 Declan Rice 
8 Jude Bellingham 
10 Phil Foden 
7 Bukayo Saka 
9 Harry Kane 
11 Marcus Rashford 
1 Dominik Livaković 
2 Josip Stanišić 
6 Joško Gvardiol 
5 Duje Ćaleta-Car 
3 Borna Sosa 
8 Mateo Kovačić 
10 Luka Modrić 
11 Marcelo Brozović 
7 Lovro Majer 
9 Andrej Kramarić 
4 Ivan Perišić England (4-3-3)
Croatia (4-3-3)
England
4-3-3 · Coach: Thomas Tuchel · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
Croatia
4-3-3 · Coach: Zlatko Dalić · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
England vs Croatia — Historic Context & Meeting Record
World Cup pedigree, confederation background, and what this fixture means for both nations.
England lead the all-time series 6-2-3 across 11 senior international meetings.
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 1996 | Friendly | London, England | England 0–0 Croatia |
| 20 Aug 2003 | Friendly | Ipswich, England | England 3–1 Croatia |
| 21 Jun 2004 | UEFA Euro | Lisbon, Portugal | Croatia 2–4 England |
| 11 Oct 2006 | UEFA Euro qualification | Zagreb, Croatia | Croatia 2–0 England |
| 21 Nov 2007 | UEFA Euro qualification | London, England | England 2–3 Croatia |
| 10 Sept 2008 | FIFA World Cup qualification | Zagreb, Croatia | Croatia 1–4 England |
| 9 Sept 2009 | FIFA World Cup qualification | London, England | England 5–1 Croatia |
| 11 Jul 2018 | FIFA World Cup | Moscow, Russia | Croatia 2–1 England |
| 12 Oct 2018 | UEFA Nations League | Rijeka, Croatia | Croatia 0–0 England |
| 18 Nov 2018 | UEFA Nations League | London, England | England 2–1 Croatia |
| 13 Jun 2021 | UEFA Euro | London, England | England 1–0 Croatia |
England
ConfederationUnion of European Football Associations
World Cup Apps16
Best ResultWinners (1966)
QualificationUEFA Group I winners
Croatia
ConfederationUnion of European Football Associations
World Cup Apps6
Best ResultThird place (1998, 2022)
QualificationUEFA Group H runners-up
📍 Venue Fact Sheet — MetLife Stadium
Opened2010
SurfaceFieldTurf Classic
Capacity82,500
ArchitectHOK Sport
WC 2026 Matches7
Notable EventsSuper Bowl XLVIII (2014), Copa América Centenario Final (2016)
Notable Matches at This Venue
| Year | Competition | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Super Bowl XLVIII | Seattle Seahawks vs Denver Broncos | Seattle 43–8 Denver |
| 2016 | Copa América Centenario Final | Chile vs Argentina | Chile 0–0 Argentina (4–1 pens) |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | 7 matches scheduled | TBC |
Team Form & Recent Outings
How England and Croatia arrive at the World Cup based on their last five competitive fixtures.
England
WWWDL
3W 1D 1L · 10 GF · 2 GA · 3 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
L 0-1
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Japan (H)
D 1-1
27 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Uruguay (H)
W 2-0
16 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Albania (A)
W 2-0
13 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Serbia (H)
W 5-0
14 Oct 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Latvia (A)
Croatia
WWWWL
4W 0D 1L · 12 GF · 7 GA · 1 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
L 1-3
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Brazil (N)
W 2-1
26 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Colombia (N)
W 3-2
17 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Montenegro (A)
W 3-1
14 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Faroe Islands (H)
W 3-0
12 Oct 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Gibraltar (H)
Key Players to Watch
Six individuals who could decide the outcome of England vs Croatia at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
England
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
50 caps · 30 goals
Most interceptions per 90 in squad
A mainstay of the England national team with over 20 caps, Harry Kane brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Ollie Watkins
89 caps · 4 goals
Captain — 87 caps of experience
A mainstay of the England national team with over 23 caps, Ollie Watkins brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Phil Foden
50 caps · 30 goals
Most interceptions per 90 in squad
A mainstay of the England national team with over 20 caps, Phil Foden brings leadership and technical quality. Their ability to read the game one phase ahead makes them a pivotal figure in England's structure.
Croatia
Player to Watch
Andrej Kramarić
25 caps · 10 goals
Aerial duel winner — 68% success rate
Andrej Kramarić has been instrumental in Croatia's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Bruno Petković
12 caps · 7 goals
Fastest player in squad (35.2 km/h)
Bruno Petković is enjoying a career-best season at Dinamo Zagreb, translating club form into international impact. Zlatko Dalić relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain Croatia's competitive edge.
Mario Pašalić
89 caps · 4 goals
Captain — 87 caps of experience
A mainstay of the Croatia national team with over 23 caps, Mario Pašalić brings leadership and technical quality. Their ability to read the game one phase ahead makes them a pivotal figure in Croatia's structure.
Tactical Analysis
A deep dive into how Thomas Tuchel and Zlatko Dalić will set their sides up tactically for this FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage clash.
England — 4-3-3
System Overview
A balanced system with width from full-backs and a single pivot shielding the back four.
Attacking Patterns
England's set-piece threat is significant — they scored 12 goals from corners and free-kicks in qualifying.
Defensive Shape
England defends in a compact 4-4-2 low block, funneling play wide where they have aerial dominance.
Croatia — 4-3-3
System Overview
A balanced system with width from full-backs and a single pivot shielding the back four.
Attacking Patterns
England favours quick transitions within 5 seconds of winning possession — a direct counter-attacking style.
Defensive Shape
England drops into a mid-block when leading, compressing vertical space between the lines.
Key Tactical Battle to Watch
The decisive tactical battle will be England's three-man defence against Croatia's wing-back system. If Thomas Tuchel can neutralise Croatia's primary creator in central zones, England should control the tempo.
Match Prediction & AI Forecast
Data-driven outlook for England vs Croatia based on squad depth, recent form, and historical head-to-head trends.
AI Forecast
FavouriteEither side (very close)
Confidence52%
Likely Scorelines1-1 · 2-1 · 1-2
Factors for England
- Both sides are evenly matched in FIFA rankings and squad depth
- Tactical familiarity between Thomas Tuchel and Zlatko Dalić from previous encounters
Factors for Croatia
- Unpredictable World Cup opening-match nerves for both squads
- VAR and refereeing decisions could heavily influence a tight contest
This forecast is generated by an editorial AI model using squad-depth heuristics and confederation strength indices. It is not a betting tip.
This AI-generated forecast is for entertainment and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute betting advice. Always gamble responsibly.
Tickets & Pricing
Secure your seat for England vs Croatia at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey on June 26, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions — England vs Croatia
Who is playing in England vs Croatia at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
England face Croatia on June 26, 2026 at MetLife Stadium. The match features England's 4-3-3 system under head coach Thomas Tuchel against Croatia's 4-3-3 shape managed by Zlatko Dalić.
What time does England vs Croatia kick off?
Kick-off is scheduled for the local match time shown above. Check your local broadcaster for timezone conversion. FIFA recommends arriving at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
Where is England vs Croatia being played?
The match takes place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, USA. The stadium has a capacity of 82,500 spectators.
How to buy FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets for England vs Croatia?
Tickets are available through the official FIFA Ticketing portal at fifa.com/tickets. Categories range from $60 (Category 3) to $450+ (Hospitality). Create a FIFA ID and select your preferred seating tier during the sales phase.
What formation will England and Croatia use?
England typically line up in a 4-3-3 formation under Thomas Tuchel, while Croatia favour a 4-3-3 system with Zlatko Dalić. Expected lineups are listed in the team sheets above.
Who are the key players to watch in England vs Croatia?
For England, watch Jordan Pickford in attack. For Croatia, Dominik Livaković leads the line. Both teams rely on experienced midfield engines to control tempo.
What TV channel is broadcasting England vs Croatia?
Broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are held by Fox Sports (USA), TelevisaUnivision (Mexico), TSN (Canada), BBC/ITV (UK), ARD/ZDF (Germany), and beIN Sports (Middle East). Check your local listings for the exact channel in your territory.
Has England ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
England have reached the knockout rounds in multiple tournaments, with their best ever finish being Winners (1966).
Has Croatia ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
Croatia have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Third place (1998, 2022).
All tickets are sold through the official FIFA Ticketing Portal. Create a FIFA ID to purchase Category 1–3 or Hospitality packages. Prices shown are indicative and subject to demand-based dynamic pricing.