The path to glory for the England men's football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been set, with a tantalising and familiar opening fixture confirmed. The Three Lions were drawn against Croatia in Group L during the official ceremony in Washington DC on Friday, 5th December 2025.
A Familiar Foe Awaits in the Opener
In a draw conducted by NFL legend Tom Brady, England manager Thomas Tuchel discovered his side's first opponent for the expanded 48-team tournament. The match will reignite a recent rivalry, recalling Croatia's victory over England in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This time, the two nations will clash on June 17, 2026.
The exact venue for this high-stakes opener is yet to be finalised, with the match scheduled to be played at either BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, or the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, USA. The full schedule, including precise kick-off times, will be officially announced at 5pm GMT on Saturday, 6th December.
Tournament Favourites Begin Their Campaign
England entered the draw as one of the seeded teams in Pot 1, a status they share with defending champions Argentina and European champions Spain. This positioning marks them as one of the pre-tournament favourites for the competition, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The draw sets the stage for a compelling group phase. While the full composition of Group L and England's other opponents are still to be confirmed in this report, the headline fixture against Croatia provides an immediate narrative of redemption and ambition for Tuchel's squad.
Fans and pundits will now eagerly await the remaining fixture details, as the road to potentially lifting the trophy in North America begins to take concrete shape. The confirmation of the Croatia match ensures the Three Lions' campaign will start with a serious test against a nation with a proven pedigree in major tournaments.
