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England v Croatia predictions: Who will win World Cup 2026 Group L game?
Our predictions for England v Croatia in World Cup 2026 Group TBC, including who we think will win.
(Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
- Ned Holmes
Published: Wednesday, 17 June 2026 at 11:00 am
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England and Croatia get Group L under way on Wednesday, when they meet at the Dallas Stadium on the sixth day of World Cup 2026.
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The pair have been drawn alongside Ghana and Panama, whose game kicks off at midnight, and are expected to scrap it out for top spot in the group.
On the back of a flawless qualifying campaign – eight games, eight wins, eight clean sheets – the Three Lions are the favourites to win Group L but will know they cannot underestimate Wednesday's opponents.
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Croatia broke English hearts on the way to the World Cup final 2018 and reached the semis four years ago. Remarkably, the old guard of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Ivan Perisic remain key figures for Zlatko Dalić's side.
Will they haunt England once again? Or can Thomas Tuchel's men banish their past demons and make a winning start?
Radio Times brings you our predictions for England v Croatia at World Cup 2026.
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England v Croatia predictions
Their shared history cannot be ignored but both sides have changed a lot since that 2018 semi-final. England look a more complete unit under Thomas Tuchel, while Croatia are a team going through a transition from old to new.
Dalić's side are wily operators and will cause initial problems for the Three Lions but the cream will rise to the top by the end of the game.
Radio Times says... England 3-1 Croatia
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Authors
Ned Holmes
Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.
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