The opening group stage match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium has drawn significant attention, especially as the English team seeks to avenge their 2018 semi-final loss to Croatia in Russia. According to the UK Football Policing Unit, between 12,000 and 15,000 England fans are expected to attend the match, with 89,000 World Cup tickets already purchased by England supporters overall. This figure includes all 104 matches in the tournament, with most fans attending multiple fixtures. The official England Supporters’ Travel Club (ESTC) has already sold its allocation of 4,022 tickets, but some of these appear to be listed on FIFA’s resale site at inflated prices.

Historical Context and Fan Expectations

Croatia’s victory over England in the 2018 semi-final remains a painful memory for English fans — that 2-1 extra-time defeat ended England’s hopes of reaching the final. However, in the years since, England has won two and drawn one of their three competitive meetings with Croatia. The English team is favored to win this match, according to bookmakers, with odds of 3/4 for a win, 17/4 for Croatia, and 29/10 for a draw. Many experts predict England will at least make it to the quarterfinals.

Croatia’s team has expressed excitement ahead of the match — Tomislav Pacak, the team’s head of communications, said, “You can feel the excitement whenever you look on social media or whoever you speak to. You can feel that it’s the World Cup; And for me as a player, it’s truly special to be part of the team.”

Logistics and Team Preparations

England has faced some logistical challenges in the lead-up to the match — the team was based in Kansas City, where they experienced a tornado warning shortly after arrival and had some of their equipment stolen. Two men from San Antonio have been arrested in connection with the theft, as Meanwhile, the England squad has also had a lighter moment, with star player Declan Rice appearing on the team’s “Lion’s Den” show. He joked about a sunburn incident. Revealing his mother had worried about it, as the team is now based in Kansas City ahead of the match.

Croatia, on the other hand, is based in northern Virginia. Both teams have provided their predicted starting lineups, with England expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Jordan Pickford in goal and Harry Kane as the lone striker. Croatia will likely start with a 3-4-2-1 formation, featuring Luka Modric in midfield; the match is set to kick off at 20:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. KST) on June 17, 2026.

Controversies and Concerns

Manager Thomas Tuchel has drawn criticism for some of his squad selections. Several top Premier League stars, including Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, were left out of the 26-man squad. Tuchel’s decision to include Jordan Henderson over Adam Wharton has been particularly controversial, with critics arguing that Wharton is one of the best midfielders in England. Tuchel’s emphasis on functionality over creativity in the midfield has raised concerns that England may lack the flair needed to win a World Cup. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are expected to start in central midfield, but neither is known for their “wow factor.”

Ticket pricing has also been a point of controversy. Group stage tickets for the 2026 World Cup have been criticized for being too expensive. In Qatar, group stage tickets were priced at £68.50, £164.50, and £219, but for England’s match against Croatia, prices started at £198, £373, and £523. FIFA’s official resale site charges an additional 15% on top of the ticket price, further inflating costs. One England fan described the pricing as a “betrayal.”

Adding to the drama, the match will be officiated by French referee Clément Turpin, who has a contentious history with Tuchel. In April 2023, when Tuchel was at Bayern Munich, he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards from Turpin during a Champions League quarter-final match against Manchester City. That match saw Bayern Munich receive five yellow cards in the first half alone. Tuchel has referred to Turpin as a “Grade E” referee in the past.