England are set to begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday evening, nearly a week after the tournament started. Thomas Tuchel's side will be eager to make a strong first impression in Group L, aiming to control their destiny from the outset.
England's Quest for World Cup Glory
Sixty years after their only World Cup triumph, England are determined to start well against a familiar opponent. Victory would give them an excellent chance of progressing to the knockout stages. The Three Lions were famously beaten by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, losing to an extra-time strike from Mario Mandzukic. They will be seeking revenge in their first World Cup meeting since that painful defeat.
Which Channel is Broadcasting the England Game?
ITV will broadcast England's opening group stage match of the 2026 World Cup against Croatia. The public UK broadcasters ITV and BBC share the rights to all 104 games in the tournament, which is being held across the US, Mexico, and Canada. ITV will kick off England's campaign coverage from Dallas, while the BBC will broadcast England's second group game against Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June.
Kick-off for the Croatia game is at 9pm BST, with coverage starting from 8pm BST.
Who Are the Pundits and Commentators?
Former England internationals Ian Wright and Gary Neville are expected to be among the pundits, with Roy Keane also likely to front the coverage alongside presenter Mark Pougatch. Sam Matterface is expected to be the lead commentator, with former England full-back Lee Dixon on co-commentary.
Although not named among the list of ITV pundits for the tournament, former Croatian international Slaven Bilic has previously worked with the broadcaster and could potentially be drafted in. Former Chelsea Women's boss Emma Hayes has provided analysis throughout the tournament. ITV have yet to confirm the lineup for the game.
Full List of ITV Pundits
- Roy Keane
- Ian Wright
- Gary Neville
- Patrick Vieira
- Karen Carney
- Ange Postecoglou
- Juan Mata
- Emma Hayes
- Duncan Ferguson
- Jobi McAnuff
