England to Face Croatia in 2026 FIFA World Cup Opener on June in Dallas

England's first match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be against Croatia on June at 9pm local time in Dallas.

Match details and opponent England will begin their 2026 World Cup run against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17 at 21:00 BST in Dallas. Manager Thomas Tuchel's team will meet the same European rivals they lost to in the 2018 semi-final, a match Croatia won 2-1 in Moscow. This encounter marks the first of three group-stage fixtures for England in Group L. Ghana and Panama complete the group lineup with the Three Lions. ## Broadcast and streaming options Live radio coverage will be available through BBC Radio 5 Live online and the BBC Sounds app. Fans can follow real-time text updates on the official platform's website and mobile application. Match highlights will be published shortly after the final whistle on the same digital channels and BBC iPlayer. A spoiler-free highlights section is accessible at a designated URL for viewers seeking post-match summaries. ## Recent preparation and squad updates Declan Rice and Anthony Gordon contributed to England's 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in their final warm-up fixture. The squad's form in friendlies has set the stage for their World Cup campaign. Thomas Tuchel has finalized his starting lineup for the opening game against Croatia. Fitness levels and tactical adjustments remain under scrutiny ahead of the tournament. ## Additional viewer resources A series of frequently asked questions addresses common queries about the World Cup. Topics include knockout qualification rules, red card suspensions, and the reasons behind players' footwear choices. Instructions on accessing match highlights are also provided for late-night viewers. The platform continues to update its coverage with in-depth previews and post-match analysis.