England 3 vs 1 Croatia summary: updates, goals, score and highlights | World Cup 2026 Group L

IT'S ALL OVER!!!!

England with a brilliant debut, and they go right to the top of the table with a convincing win in one of the games of the group stages. 

Gvardiol had a point blank chance off a corner kick but Kane jumped in front of that shot on the back post and sacrificed his body to keep that goal off the board. 

This is going to go down as a great night for England. They looked so comfortable creating real, dangerous chances all night, and even more in the second half. They gave up a couple of goals, but in fairness the two goals from Croatia world class goals. 

SIX MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME FROM DALLAS. 

Marcus Rashford may not know where he is playing next year, but if he keeps scoring goals he will have plenty of suitors lining up after this tournament. 

That should do it for Croatia. They just haven't had the response in this second half. They leveled the match before halftime, but Jude's goal right after the break seemed to flatten them. 

Kovacic weaving his way through the midfield and found some space to have a shot but did't hit it right and that ended up being a comfortable save for Pickford. 

Croatia just starting to turn up the pressure a little bit knowing they would love to take a point from this opening match. 

Spence with his first intervention in this game, and he got in behind the defense, had to slide to try and slip it past Livakovic but the keeper was up to the task again. 

Ball sent in by Kramaric and it was punched out by Pickford but only as far as Sucic who put the rebound on goal but that was saved easily. 

Bellingham being subbed out to a hearty applause as Spence comes into the match for the final 10 minutes. 

Vlasic and Kramaric in for Palasic and Baturina. 

Stanisic makes a run to the end line and put a ball into the mix but he was ruled offside before that ball reached a dangerous area. 

Pasalic getting into the area and tried to surprise Pickford with a quick shot but the ENG keeper was up to the task on the shot to the near post. 

Terrible touch back from Stanisic and he almost got his keeper into a mess. Livakovic had to come off his line and punch it away from Rashford. 

We are back for the final 20 or so minutes from Dallas. 

Rashford, Saka and Rogers in for Gordon, Madueke and Bellingham. 

WE ARE AT THE HYDRATION BREAK FROM DALLAS. 

Ball sent into the area for Kane who flicks it on for Gordon who tried the volley but that was blocked off by Sutalo. 

Even though the chances are few and far between this is still a pretty free flowing match. 

Vuskovic and Musa out for Pasalic and Matanovic. 

Gordon with a run down the left wing, but that comes to nothing. He hasn't done a whole lot tonight after being the best on the pitch against Costa Rica. 

Susic earns a corner kick for Croatia, but an early action was ruled offside and a rare attack from CRO comes to a quick end. 

The game currently being played in the middle of the pitch. Seems like ENG are ok with their lead, as long as Croatia don't start to press too much. We might just see this game slow down until the final 10 minutes or so. 

What does Croatia have to do to relieve themselves of some pressure? They can't withstand this much of a barrage from England all second half and expect to be in this match towards the end of the 90. 

Modric out for Kovacic with just over a half hour to go. 

Lakovic with another double save and would have had to have another one seconds later if Kane could have got to the ball sent into the back post from Bellingham. 

Rice with another corner kick from the near side and the inswinger is punched away. 

DOUBLE SAVE FROM LIVAKOVIC!!!! O'Reilly with the first header off the corner and then Gordon on the rebound but the Croatia keeper keeps his side in the this game. 

Madueke with another positive run up and he earns another corner fort ENG. 

Short corner turns to nothing for England who have all the wind in their sails out of the break. 

Rice's corner was cleared off the front post from Perisic. Rice back into the mix and this time Perisic sends it out for a corner. 

Livakovic with a sprawling save on Rice's shot at the top of the area! England are all over Croatia in the first 6 minutes of the 2nd half. 

Ladies and gentlemen, Jude Bellingham. It was a fantastic ball from Henderson in the middle but Jude still had a lot of work to do. He was strong in his run and calm in his finish. 

Rice with a perfect ball to the back post for a O'Reilly who was in all kinds of space but simply didn't put his header on frame. 

Another chance from Bellingham at the top of the area, and his shot was stopped by Livakovic and out for a corner. 

This match is wide open coming into the second 45. England might have created a chance or two more than Croatia, but it's all level. The one thing we should hope is the pace doesn't die down in this half. 

WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION FROM DALLAS!!

Honestly not sure which of the Croatia goals I like more. The first one was pure power, but the second was wonderfully worked and the nod from Perisic to Musa was brilliant. 

Harry Kane with his first half brace. This one might have been even more open than his penalty take. No one from the Croatia defense put a finger on him and he was offered one of the easiest headers he's ever had. 

The entire build up was beautiful, but the lay off from Stanisic for Baturina was perfect and the shot that Pickford couldn't handle was perfectly placed for the equalizer in the 36th. 

You can't give the best goal scorer in the world a second chance from the spot. On the retake, Kane hit it with conviction and with placement to beat the keeper and put England up 1-0. 

Kane's first penalty was stopped by Livakovic, but after a quick review it was deemed his foot was slightly off the line and Kane got another chance. 

It has been a fantastic afternoon of soccer from two of the heavyweights of the game. England came out and scored the first goal thanks to this penalty by Modric on Madueke. Not very often do you see Luka slow on the ball, but he got caught out here.

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK, AND CROSSING OUR FINGERS THAT THIS MATCH DOESN'T SLOW DOWN IN THE SECOND 45. 

Quick passing through the middle and Pasavic winds up from distance but that shot was always sailing wide. 

Perisic trying to continue the action on the left touchline but he just let that roll out over the line as we approach the break. 

James with a strike wide of the wall but Modric was there to block it with his belly. 

FIVE MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME ADDED TO THIS FIRST HALF. 

Bellingham was cut down in the attacking midfield and this could be a chance for Rice to have a go from distance. Or Kane. Why not? He's on a hat trick. 

Devastating goal to give up for Croatia after they did so much to battle back and level this match. Especially giving up the goal right before halftime. 

I have to be honest. Not sure how Croatia leaves a guy like Harry Kane all alone in the area. He was up towards the top of the area, but came streaking in and was not even touched before striking a perfect header. 

Corner kick coming after Vuskovic nods it out of play. He has looked good so far, the Croatia CB. 

Baturina with a golazo to level this opening match between these two EURO giants.  So far the match of the day is delivering. 

It was a perfect lay off from Stanisic who got into the area, could have had a shot but coughed it up and Baturina was there to laser it into the side netting off the hand of Pickford"

Conter led by Jude and Madueke but it was James who put in the ball from the right siide. That was sent away by Sutalo and ENG come up empty but they are looking dangerous especially on the break. 

Croacia might even be winning the possession battle but they have yet to make Pickford work in the first 33 minutes. 

Madueke put a delicious ball into the box and Bellingham almost hunted it down and got in behind Sutalo but the defender just did enough to prevent the 2-0. 

Kane is all the way back, helping out in defense and they have 11 behind the ball almost at all times. 

Croacia doing a good job recovering balls quickly after losing possession and that could be trouble for ENG. 

Kane got caught out in the defensive half of the pitch and Vuskovic, the CB, took the ball away and tried to get into the area but took down Kane before anything could develop. 

Croatia just trying to get themselves a little momentum with some possession and some passes from touchline to touchline .

We are back in action after a quick break. 

WE ARE AT THE HYDRATION BREAK FROM DALLAS!

Gordon skipping into the middle of the park and looked for a long run from the back for James, but that ball was well ahead of the full back and we are heading to a break here from Dallas. 

Bellingham leading the counter and he had options but held on to the ball for too long until the space ran out in Croatia's area. 

Henderson anticipated the pass through the middle of the park and he intercepted that but nothing came of the dangerous give away in the back. 

Kane stepped to the spot for the second time after the saved penalty was nullified. Still not exactly positive of why the save didn't stand but we have our team on it. 

Rice's corner was high and over the head of all his teammates in the mix. 

Madueke off the goal kick and he takes it right at Gvardiol before having a shot from a tight angle. Livakovic came up with the save but another corner kick for ENG. 

Musa takes a touch in the middle off the ball in from Sucic and Bellingham came in and saved the day by knocking that ball out of play. It actually went off of Sucic and that will be ruled a goal kick. 

It was a bit clumsy from a player who is rarely caught off guard. Luka Modric commits the penalty, perhaps surprised by the pace of Madueke. 

Stones of steel for Kane who stepped up and slotted it home just after having his first effort stopped. He's the most prolific goal scorer in the world. You can't give him two chances from the spot. 

THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE KANE ANOTHER SHOT!!! THE REPLAY LOOKED CLEAN FROM LIVAKOVIC BUT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DEFENDER IN THE AREA BEFORE THE SHOT WAS TAKEN. 

PENALTY!!!!

Off the cleared corner kick, Madueke jumped in front of Modric who was looking to clear the ball out of danger and dropped the Arsenal man as the ref points to the spot. 

Madueke with the first chance to drive at defenders and his cross eventually found Kane who turned on the shot at the top of the area, but it was deflected out for a corner kick. 

Croatia from the back looking for Perisic but it was Pickford coming off his line and just about clearing that out of danger. 

Kane dropping deep and looking for Gordon behind the defense but he miss hit that ball over the top and the first attack was easily dealt with by the Croatia back line. 

Croatia looking like the hungrier side in the very early portion of the match. 

Preisic this time from the near side driving a low ball into the box that is cleared away by Stones. 

Perisic from the far side and his inswingerfound Sutalo on the back post but he couldn't get his foot over that volley to steer it on target. 

Croatia with a first chance to push bodies forward with an early corner kick. 

Both teams like to have the ball. Both teams can create chances. Both teams can score goals, but it's true that both of these teams are very sound in the back. This could end 3-3 or 0-1. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS!!!!

Massive match in Group L. The winner will most likely win the group, but it's not time to be thinking about the future. We have 90 minutes to go as these two countries open their World Cup campaign. 

Magical Messi 

Lionel Messi has nothing to do with this game. I just wanted to remind you of his historic night last night from Kansas City. It was his 200th cap with Argentina, he became the first player to play in six World Cups (Ronaldo joined him today), second to score in five World Cups and scored a hat trick as he joined Miroslav Klose as the World Cup's all time leading scorer with 16. 

Livramento out

One of the guys that was picked instead of Trent Alexander-Arnold was Tino Livramento. He missed the final month and some change of the Premier League season and still got the call up over TAA. He played 45 minutes against New Zealand, was held on the bench against Costa Rica but since then, suffered a calf injury and was sent home and swapped for Trevoh Chalobah who plays center back for Chelsea. 

England players back home 

The players who didn't get named to the England squad are almost making more headlines than the ones that are in the squad. While stars like Jude, and Kane and Saka and Rice are top names in the world of soccer, but so are names like Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold and they failed to make the cut for Thomas Tuchel. Guys who play for clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid have been left off the squad for guys who play for Newcastle, Tottenham, Brentford and Nottingham Forrest. No offense to the guys who play for those clubs, but there is some star power that might be useful who have been left at home. 

England vs. the summer sun 

One or the stories of the World Cup camps was the Three Lions struggles in the hot summer sun in South Florida. The England camp was stationed in West Palm Gardens. Immediately there were concerns about the heat in Florida taking it's toll on the players. Luckily, today’s game will be played indoors with a controlled atmosphere that shouldn’t effect either team. Their next two group stage matches will be played in New England and in New York/New Jersey which shouldn’t bring too many extreme conditions either. 

Group L outlook  

This group, like a lot of the groups around the World Cup is a bit top heavy. I suppose that's what happen when you amplify the field to 48 teams and make 12 four team groups. England (4th in FIFA) and Croatia (11th in FIFA) are the favorites. Panama (34th in FIFA) could surprise some people, and Ghana (73rd in FIFA) are tournament regulars and could use that experience to make some noise in the group stages. Here is how Group L is looking heading into today’s game. 

GROUP L
1. England
2. Croatia
3. Ghana
4. Panama

Schedule

Wednesday, June 17, 4 p.m. (Fox): England vs. Croatia, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Wednesday, June 17, 7 p.m. (FS1): Ghana vs. Panama, BMO Field (Toronto)
Tuesday, June 23, 4 p.m. (Fox): England vs. Ghana, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts)
Tuesday, June 23, 7 p.m. (Fox): Panama vs. Croatia, BMO Field (Toronto)
Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (Fox): Panama vs. England, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1): Croatia vs. Ghana, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

How are favorites faring?

Until yesterday, the top teams in the rankings were struggling to open their World Cup campaign. We talked about Spain drawing to Cape Verde, but Brazil and Morocco split the spoils in their first group stage match. The Netherlands and Belgium did as well. The only team that looked like a top 10 team in the world before yesterday was Germany who beat Curacao 7-1 in the Caribbean country's debut. Then France thrashed Senegal before Argentina blanked Algeria thanks to some Messi magic. Portugal and England round out the top 10 looking to move up the rankings and set themselves up for a promising World Cup campaign. 

FIFA World Rankings 

The FIFA Rankings are constantly changing. Argentina came in at the top of the World Rankings and were briefly displaced by France before winning their World Cup opener by three goals. France got bumped back to 2nd while Spain remains third following their flat opening match against Cape Verde. England came into the tournament in fourth place and that’s where they remain coming into the day. Portugal played the early game, and they came into the day in fifth. 

World Cup history: Croatia 

Croatia gained their independence in 1991 and they proved that they were a threat in their first World Cup back in 1998. They went all the way to the semis and finished third in their debut. They have made seven of eight World Cups since 1998 and they returned to their roots in their last two World Cup campaigns. In 2018 in Russia, they went to the final before being beaten by France. In 2022 they went to the semis and lost to the eventual champions, Argentina. The path to the World Cup has gone through Croatia for the last two tournaments, but they will be hoping they blaze their own trail to their first World Cup trophy. 

World Cup history: England 

Since joining FIFA back about 80 years ago, England has been a mainstay at the World Cup. They have only missed three World Cups since then, one of those being the 1994 World Cup in the US. They won it all in 1966 and have been looking to recapture the Cup ever since. They have made it two the semis twice, in 1990 and in 2018 but are looking to get back to the final for the first time in 60 years. They have faired better at the Euros, where they have been runners up in the last two tournaments. 

England's XI

We have Thomas Tuchels first XI of the World Cup and Bellingham has made it into the opening eleven for Tuchel. Kane up top with Madueke and Gordon on each wing. 

Star watch: England 

How do you pick out just one star on this stacked England side? Well, when Harry Kane is your No. 9, it makes the job a little easier. Harry Kane was already a prolific goal scorer even before leaving Tottenham for Germany. Since he arrived in Munich, he has turned into one of the best strikers of this generation. He has put up video game numbers with Bayern, and is now taking aim at the World Cup. He scored 36 goals in 31 matches in the Bundesliga and 14 goals I 13 Champions League matches. He had 6 goals in 6 matches during the 2018 World Cup but just 2 in Qatar. This summer he will be looking to add to his Ballon d'Or campaign while leading his country to World Cup glory.  

England vs. Croatia live 

Today we wrap up the final matches of the opening round of the group stage, and we will be treated to European heavyweight bout that is worthy of a knockout tie much deeper in this tournament. Today it's a Croatia side looking to prove that it’s still a team capable of challenging for the World Cup against an England team that is desperate to bring it home after over a half century without winning soccer’s biggest prize. AS English will be with you all day providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of today’s can’t miss match from Dallas, Texas.