The first round of the 2026 World Cup is nearing its conclusion, and a noteworthy matchup will occur today. England faces Croatia, with the game kicking off at the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium.
Currently ranked fourth by FIFA, England aims for redemption after a quarter-final exit in 2022. The squad is impressive, featuring captain Harry Kane in his third World Cup, alongside talents like Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice.
The opening game for England will be against Croatia, who achieved a mixed record of 2 wins and 2 draws during the qualifying rounds. Croatia’s captain, Luka Modric, is also making his fifth World Cup appearance, and the team has performed remarkably well in previous tournaments, snagging second in 2018 and third in 2022.
Match Details
The match is set for today, June 17, at 4 PM ET.
Where to Watch
If you don’t have cable, there are live streaming options available to catch the game. DIRECTV is my go-to choice—it offers a free trial for 5 days, which can be a great way to watch without upfront costs. Their plan includes channels like FOX, FS1, and Telemundo among over 125 options. Alternatively, you might check out FOX One, which also provides a free trial to access World Cup matches.
Upcoming Matches
England’s World Cup Schedule
- June 17th at 4 PM ET – Croatia
- June 23rd at 4 PM ET – Ghana
- June 27th at 5 PM ET – Panama
Croatia’s World Cup Schedule
- June 17th at 4 PM ET – England
- June 23rd at 7 PM ET – Panama
- June 27th at 5 PM ET – Ghana
Squad Details
England Squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Marc Gehi, Tino Libramento, Dan Byrne, Reece James, Jed Spence, Jarrell Quansah
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Coby Mainu, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze
Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane (Captain), Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney
Croatia Squad
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic, Ivor Pandur, Dominic Kotarski
Defenders: Josip Stanic, Marine Pongrac, Josko Gvardiol, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Staro, Luka Vusković, Martin Elric
Midfielders: Nicola Moro, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric (captain), Nikola Vlasic, Mario Pasalic, Martin Baturina, Petar Susic, Christian Jakich, Toni Fulk, Luka Sutic
Forwards: Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perisic, Igor Matanovich, Marko Pasalic, Petar Musa
