The 2026 FIFA World Cup is heading to Dallas as we bring you a prediction and pick for this upcoming Group L tilt. England will face the Croatia national team to open their World Cup campaign with a chance to set the tone at AT&T Stadium. Check our World Cup odds series for the England-Croatia prediction and pick.
The last matchup between England and Croatia was a tight one that happened during the group stage of the 2021 UEFA Euro. England secured that game by pulling out a gritty 1-0 victory. The Croatians will look to avenge that loss behind the veteran playmaking of Luka Modric with quality scoring from Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric, hoping to secure a massive confidence boost as they gear up for their third World Cup under manager Zlatko Dalic.
Croatia will head into Dallas looking to make a statement as underdogs. Still, they managed to stun the world once again in the 2022 World Cup by stunning favorites Brazil in the quarterfinals before finishing third place in Qatar. While the star core is older, they still have a solid chance at making one last deep run with Modric in the rotation.
2026 World Cup odds courtesy of DraftKings
England vs. Croatia 2026 World Cup Odds
England: -140
Croatia: +390
Draw: +280
Over 2.5: +115
Under 2.5: -145
Keys to England vs. Croatia Matchup
Thomas Tuchel desires a strong start with his England side on MD1, as the Three Lions come up against Croatia. England excelled in its UEFA qualifying group, winning all eight of their fixtures while recording clean sheets in all of them. The national team has done well in the Euros, reaching the last two finals in 2021 and 2024 before finishing second place in both tournaments. In Harry Kane, they have one of the very best players on the planet, with the striker scoring 60 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich throughout the 2025-26 season.
Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia have been a consistent force at the top of world soccer. They reached the semi-finals in the last two editions of the World Cup, finishing second in 2018 and third in 2022. However, the aging nature of their squad is a concern, as Vatreni remain over reliant on veteran stars such as Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, and Andrej Kramaric. They earned their spot in this summer’s tournament after winning seven of their eight qualifying fixtures.
Under the structural guidance of Tuchel, England’s operating with sharp tactical focus, adapting rapidly to his specific demands for the World Cup. The national team’s best trait going into their group opener is the depth they boast in attacking areas, giving them multiple ways to alter their structural approach on the fly. Kane is fully sharp and will spearhead the frontline, having Bukayo Saka support him on the flank with his remarkable pace and quality. Jude Bellingham embraces his playmaker responsibilities as the star midfielder, greatly elevating England’s offense. In the deeper central areas, Declan Rice will partner alongside Kobbie Mainoo to establish physical dominance and dictate tempo, while John Stones organizes the back four to ensure a firm buildup from the back.
The undisputed heartbeat of the Croatians remains the timeless Modrić. He will control the structural tempo of the match alongside Mateo Kovačić inside a world-class, press-resistant midfield engine room. Up front, the physical presence of Bruno Petković will look to disrupt centerbacks, creating pockets of space for Kramarić to exploit. Defensively, Joško Gvardiol is fully fit to anchor the backline with his progressive passing and robust tackling, providing an elite shield ahead of dependable starting goalkeeper Dominik Livaković.
England vs. Croatia Prediction and Pick
Fans haven’t forgotten Croatia’s 2-1 upset win over England in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This gifted the Croatians their first-ever appearance in the final, while the English settled for fourth place after losing to Belgium in the third-place match.
England yearns for its first final since 1966 and hopes to make a statement in their opener. They have a tough game on the way with Croatia’s experience bound to put pressure on them, so they must find ways to strike in the right moments to take control on the momentum.
However, England will have to prove itself throughout the course of the match. Croatia’s incredible success in the 2018 and 2022 editions allows them to have the upper hand in forcing mistakes out of their opponents. With championship expectations being high on the English, this might allow the Croatians to rain on the Three Lions’ parade.
Final England vs. Croatia 2026 World Cup Prediction & Pick: Croatia (+390); Over 2.5 (+115)
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