England and Croatia meet in Group L of the 2026 World Cup on June 17 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, with Thomas Tuchel’s side entering as heavy favorites at -165 with BetOnline, while Croatia are available at +410 and the draw is priced at +280. Anthony Gordon is set to start on the left, Ezri Konsa partners John Stones in central defence, and Bukayo Saka is facing a race against time to be available after managing an Achilles issue throughout the spring. The england vs croatia world cup 2026 predictions market reflects the substantial gap in current form between these sides, though Croatia’s tournament pedigree – and England’s tendency to struggle in opening matches – keeps this from being a straightforward lay.
England qualified for this tournament with an unbeaten European campaign, while Croatia navigated a more turbulent path through their own confederation. The head-to-head record between these nations in major tournaments adds genuine weight to Croatian hopes: this is not a side that rolls over against England regardless of the price. Thomas Tuchel’s first World Cup opener as England manager carries the expectation of a positive result, but the selection uncertainty around Saka complicates any assessment of England’s ceiling in this fixture.
