Croatia heading for Dallas: Dalić's team opens the World Cup with a major test against England
The Croatia national football team on Monday, June 15, continues the final stage of preparations for its first appearance at the 2026 World Cup and travels toward Dallas, where a clash with England awaits on Wednesday. This is the opening of Croatia's campaign in Group L, one of the most high-profile groups in the first part of the tournament, which also includes Panama and Ghana. According to the official schedule of the Croatian Football Federation, the England - Croatia match will be played on June 17 at Dallas Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 10 p.m. Croatian time. The HNS previously announced that the Croatian national team will play its remaining two group matches against Panama in Toronto and against Ghana in Philadelphia. This means Zlatko Dalić's team will have to respond right at the start of the tournament to one of the most demanding possible challenges in the group, against an opponent considered one of Europe's strongest national teams.
A match that could steer the entire group
The duel between Croatia and England carries more weight than an ordinary first-round match because it brings together national teams with extensive tournament experience and high ambitions. In December, after the schedule was announced, the HNS stated that this would be the only meeting between two national teams from the then global top 10 in that phase of the competition. FIFA notes in its Group L overview that England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama will decide who advances in a format that, at this World Cup, brings together 48 national teams for the first time. For Croatia, it is especially important to avoid a slow start to the tournament, because in a group of only three matches every point and every goal difference can prove decisive. A victory would provide a strong boost ahead of the rest of the competition, while a defeat would increase the pressure before the meetings with Panama and Ghana. A draw, depending on the performance and the development of the other match in the group, would leave all possibilities open, but it would not remove the need for a very good result in the continuation.
According to FIFA's rules for the 2026 edition, the two best national teams from each group advance directly, and they are joined in the round of 32 by the eight best third-placed teams from the 12 groups. This means that third place no longer has to automatically turn into elimination, but also that performances will be compared against teams from other groups. In such a format, the number of points, goal difference and efficiency in matches in which a national team can impose itself are especially important. Croatia therefore plays against England not only for prestige, but also for a starting position that could determine how calmly it will await the next two obligations. Dalić's team enters this clash aware that at previous major tournaments it often grew through the competition, but this format does not leave much room for waiting for the ideal moment.
Final preparations after the base in Alexandria
Croatia chose Alexandria in Virginia, near Washington, as its base camp during the World Cup, as the HNS announced back in January. The federation stated at the time that the camp includes accommodation at the AKA hotel and a training center at Episcopal High School, and the decision was made with regard to the logistical demands of a tournament played across three countries and over great distances. According to available HNS announcements, the Croatian national team has spent recent days in the United States combining training, adaptation to conditions and media obligations, and the atmosphere ahead of the trip toward Dallas has been described as focused on calm preparation for England. The very fact that Croatia will travel in the group from Dallas to Toronto and then to Philadelphia shows how important the organization of recovery, training and travel will be during the first part of the tournament. In such a schedule, the head coach and staff must take into account not only tactical preparation, but also player workload, time differences and the rhythm of rest.
The HNS official schedule confirms that after England, Croatia plays against Panama on June 24 at 1 a.m. Croatian time at Toronto Stadium, while the third group match follows on June 27 at 11 p.m. Croatian time against Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium. Such a schedule brings an unusually long break between the first and second matches, but also requires a move from the United States to Canada and then a return to the United States. For national teams with extensive tournament experience, this is not an unfamiliar problem, but the 2026 World Cup, because of its scale, further emphasizes logistics. FIFA has planned 16 host cities for the tournament in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, and the competition runs from June 11 to July 19. Croatia will therefore already have to show adaptability in the group, which is one of the important differences compared with previous World Cups.
- June 17: England - Croatia, Dallas Stadium, 22:00 Croatian time
- June 24: Panama - Croatia, Toronto Stadium, 01:00 Croatian time
- June 27: Croatia - Ghana, Philadelphia Stadium, 23:00 Croatian time
Dalić's list combines proven leaders and a new generation
On June 1, the HNS confirmed the final list of the Croatia national team for the World Cup, and Zlatko Dalić's selection remained unchanged compared with the list announced in May. Captain Luka Modrić is once again the central figure of the team, while the most prominent names also include Dominik Livaković, Josip Stanišić, Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perišić, Mario Pašalić, Martin Baturina, Petar Sučić, Luka Sučić, Luka Vušković and Petar Musa. According to the HNS, the players' numbers have also been confirmed, which marks the end of the administrative part of preparations and the entry into competitive mode. Dalić has at his disposal a group with extensive experience from the biggest competitions, but also several players who could take on greater responsibility at this tournament than in the previous cycle. It is precisely that combination of routine and freshness that should be one of Croatia's answers to the rhythm of the tournament and the profile of the opponents in the group.
In its overview of Croatia's World Cup history, FIFA recalls that Croatia played in the final in Russia in 2018 and won third place in Qatar in 2022. Those two results set an exceptionally high standard and created expectations that follow the national team in North America as well. Still, the current team is in a different phase of development: some of the mainstays still play a key role, while younger players are entering the competitive plan with increasing strength. For Dalić, that is a delicate balance, because the match against England requires experience in controlling the moment, but also energy in duels, pressing and transition. In recent years, Croatia has often relied on the stability of its midfield, technical security and patience, but against a team that possesses speed and individual quality it will have to be precise in both directions of play.
Ćaleta-Car and Sučić warn about the space England must not be given
Ahead of the match, Duje Ćaleta-Car, according to an HNS announcement, said that Croatian players must transfer onto the pitch everything they worked on during preparations and implement the head coach's ideas. He particularly emphasized that England must not be left too much space because it has individuals who can decide a match with a single move. Such a message clearly points to one of Croatia's key tactical tasks: reduce the space between the lines, slow England's entry into the final third of the attack and avoid situations in which the opponent's attackers and midfielders can turn toward goal. Ćaleta-Car also emphasized the value of experience at major competitions, recalling that a large part of the Croatian team knows what kind of pressure European and World Cups and the Nations League bring. His statement shows that the Croatian camp is not trying to downplay the opponent's strength, but at the same time insists on readiness and discipline.
Luka Sučić, also according to the HNS, assessed that Croatia faces a difficult match against a strong opponent with many quality players. He stressed that the team will have to remain compact and collectively withstand all phases of the match if it wants to achieve a positive result. He spoke in particular about Jude Bellingham, whom he described as one of the best midfielders in the world and a player whose danger he knows well from previous meetings. Sučić also pointed out that the Croatian team has a good combination of experienced and younger players, with the older internationals helping newer members of the group adapt to the pressure of a major competition. Ahead of the trip toward Dallas, he also said that a great atmosphere is expected, and called the fans the twelfth player, reflecting the importance of the support that traditionally follows the Croatian national team.
England under Tuchel seeks a strong start
England enters the tournament with a new head coach, Thomas Tuchel, and with captain Harry Kane as its most recognizable attacking pillar. The English Football Association announced that Tuchel had named 26 players for the World Cup, and alongside Kane they include Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. The official list shows the breadth of selection, especially in attacking and midfield positions, but also the ambition to take a step further after a long period without a major trophy. For Croatia, this will mean that it cannot prepare for only one English variation, but must expect several different solutions in pressing, possession and the final phase of attack. Tuchel's reputation as a coach who insists on organization and intensity further emphasizes the importance of Croatian calmness under pressure.
In the English context, the match with Croatia also carries strong symbolism because of previous meetings at major competitions. Croatia beat England 2:1 after extra time in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and reached the first final in its history. England, on the other hand, defeated Croatia 1:0 at Wembley in the first group-stage match of the 2021 European Championship. Statistical overviews of the head-to-head meetings record that England is more successful overall in terms of victories, but Croatia's greatest result against that opponent remains precisely the Moscow evening of 2018. For that reason, the new meeting should not be viewed only through history, but it is clear that this is a rivalry that has already produced matches of great significance several times.
The first test of Croatian ambitions at the expanded World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is different from all previous editions because it is being played for the first time with 48 national teams, 12 groups and an expanded knockout phase. FIFA states that 32 national teams will qualify for the round of 32, which formally increases the number of opportunities to advance, but at the same time reduces room for calculations because the ranking of third-placed teams will be compared across the entire tournament. Croatia must seek points from the first match in such a system, but also take care of the stability of its performance, because goal difference can gain additional value. The match against England therefore imposes itself as a measure of Croatia's current level, especially in the context of generational change and expectations after the medals in 2018 and 2022. Dalić's national team will not decide everything in Dallas, but it can steer a lot already in the first 90 minutes.
The match against England will also be a test of psychological maturity, because Croatia arrives at the tournament with the reputation of a national team that knows how to play under pressure, but also with an opponent that has enough individual quality to punish every lapse in concentration. Croatia will have to carefully balance caution and ambition, especially in phases when England tries to speed up play through Bellingham, Saka, Kane or other attacking options. At the same time, Croatia's midfield and defense will have to keep the ball well enough to prevent the match from turning into constant defense of its own penalty area. The first duel in Group L is therefore not only the beginning of Croatia's path at the World Cup, but also an early indicator of how much this team can combine the experience of the older core with the energy of players who are still building their place on the biggest stage. After the final preparations and the trip toward Texas, the answer will arrive in Dallas.
Sources:
- Croatian Football Federation – official schedule of Croatia's matches in Group L of the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- HNS.team / results – official scoreboard and information about the next England - Croatia match. (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – confirmation of Croatia's final national team squad for the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – statements by Duje Ćaleta-Car ahead of the match with England. (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – statements by Luka Sučić ahead of the match with England. (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – announcement about Alexandria as Croatia's base camp during the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- FIFA – official overview of Group L at the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- FIFA – explanation of the group format, advancement and criteria at the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- FIFA – overview of Croatia's history and results at World Cups. (link)
- England Football / The FA – official England squad list for the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- 11v11 – statistical overview of head-to-head meetings between England and Croatia. (link)