World Cup Group L bursts into life in Texas on June 17 with a terrific tussle between two European elites: England vs Croatia.
This will be the second time the pair have met at a World Cup tournament, and if the first match-up was anything to go by, we are set for a thriller. Eight years ago, Croatia saw off England in extra time to book their place in the 2018 Final.
When is England vs Croatia?
England World Cup fixtures
Date | Fixture (kick-off) | Venue | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
Wed, June 17 | England vs Croatia (3pm CDT) | AT&T Stadium (Arlington) | |
Tue, June 23 | England vs Ghana (4pm ET) | Gillette Stadium (Foxborough) | |
Sat, June 27 | England vs Panama (5pm ET) | MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) |
Croatia World Cup fixtures
Date | Fixture (kick-off) | Venue | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
Wed, June 17 | Croatia vs England (3pm CDT) | AT&T Stadium (Arlington) | |
Tue, June 23 | Croatia vs Panama (7pm ET) | BMO Field (Toronto) | |
Sat, June 27 | Croatia vs Ghana (5pm ET) | Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) |
How to buy England vs Croatia World Cup tickets
As of today, the major official World Cup ticket lotteries (including the Visa Presale and early Random Selection Draws) have concluded. With record-breaking demand, primary availability via the initial phases is now extremely limited.
Here is the current status of ticket sales:
- Last-Minute Sales Phase: This phase is currently live and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike the lotteries, these are real-time transactions. This is the final window to buy directly from FIFA.
- Official FIFA Resale Marketplace: This is the only authorized platform for fans to buy and sell verified tickets at face value. It will remain open until the end of the tournament.
- Secondary Marketplaces: Fans can also find tickets on platforms like StubHub. Always check the T&Cs of the secondary site before purchasing.
One key point for resale buyers: availability can be very limited, and tickets may appear sporadically. Fans hoping to secure resale tickets should check the platform frequently, act quickly when tickets appear, and have payment details ready in advance.
How much are England vs Croatia tickets?
FIFA has implemented variable pricing for the 2026 tournament. Tickets for the Group Stage started from as low as $60 (for specific Supporter Tiers), while prices for the Final can reach up to $6,730.
Below are the estimated price ranges for the current tournament phases:
Category | Group Stage | Round of 16 - Quarters | Semis & Final |
|---|---|---|---|
Category 1 | $250 - $400 | $600 - $1,200 | $1,500 - $6,730 |
Category 2 | $150 - $280 | $400 - $800 | $1,000 - $4,210 |
Category 3 | $100 - $200 | $200 - $500 | $600 - $2,790 |
Category 4 | $60 - $120 | $150 - $350 | $400 - $2,030 |
What to expect from England vs Croatia
England may be unbeaten in their previous three match-ups against Croatia, but their World Cup 2018 semi-final loss still hurts and they’ll be aiming to avenge that defeat in their Group F opener in Arlington.
There’s little doubt that England will be one of the best supported teams at FIFA World Cup 2026. As well as the huge numbers jetting across the Atlantic, they also have a large number of supporters based in North America already.
While the wait for England’s first major international tournament triumph since 1966 continues, their consistent performances on the big stage underlines their status as one of Europe’s (and the world’s) elite football teams. It’s also one of the reasons why fans keep flocking to see them play and why demand for England tickets is always high.
Despite some below-par performances during the early stages of their World qualifying campaign, including 1-0 and 2-0 wins over Andorra, England grew in confidence under Thomas Tuchel's tutelage. They finished top of their group with eight wins from eight starts, scoring 22 times and conceding none and became the first European side to seal a World Cup Finals berth.
Croatia themselves were a dominant force during qualifying. Zlatko Dalic's Vatreni remained unbeaten and finished top of their group, winning seven of their eight games. In fact, they only dropped points when drawing 0-0 in Prague against Czech Republic.
The Croats may have an ageing squad, but their vast experience could prove decisive. Having reached the semi-finals at back-to-back World Cups, their chances cannot be dismissed too lightly.
Everything you need to know about AT&T Stadium
AT&T Stadium is a retractable roof stadium in Arlington, Texas, which opened in 2009. While its main tenants are the Dallas Cowboys of NFL fame, the venue has been used for a variety of other activities, such as concerts, basketball games, rodeos and professional wrestling (WWE) events.
AT&T Stadium will be one of 11 US stadiums to host FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. With a seated capacity of 94,000, it will be the largest venue used during the tournament. As well as England vs Croatia, AT&T Stadium will stage four other group encounters and four knockout matches, including one of the semi-finals.
England vs Croatia: Head to head record
ENGLast 5 matches
CRO3
Wins
1
Draw
1
Win
Goals scored
3- Games over 2.5 goals
- 2/5
- Both teams scored
- 2/5
ENG-Form
ENG- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 7/2
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 1/5
- Both teams scored
- 1/5
CRO-Form
CRO- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 8/9
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 4/5
- Both teams scored
- 4/5
England vs Croatia lineups
Starting XI
Substitutes
Manager
- T. Tuchel
- Z. Dalic