England vs Croatia: TV, Stream, Lineups and the 2018 Rematch

England vs Croatia is not just a familiar World Cup grudge match. It is Thomas Tuchel's first tournament game with England, it comes against a Croatia side that has rarely been an easy watch for English supporters, and it lands in a useful U.S. afternoon slot.

If you are checking in before kickoff, the practical stuff comes first: when it starts, where FOX has it, when the lineups become official, whether Bukayo Saka is risked, and how Tuchel uses Jude Bellingham. The fuller tactical preview is there if you want the deeper pregame read.

What time is England vs Croatia?

FIFA official match schedule lists England vs Croatia as Group L, Match 22, at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Kickoff is 3:00 PM local time in Dallas.

For U.S. viewers, that is 4:00 PM ET and 1:00 PM PT. It is 20:00 UTC and 9:00 PM in the UK. In UTC+8, it is 4:00 AM on Thursday, June 18. For American viewers, this is the clean afternoon slot between Portugal vs DR Congo and the evening Ghana vs Panama match.

What TV channel is England vs Croatia on?

FOX Sports lists England vs Croatia on FOX at 4:00 PM ET in its official World Cup 2026 broadcast schedule. The listing follows a 3:00 PM ET FIFA World Cup Today studio window, which makes this one of the easier opening-round matches to find.

If you are using a TV provider guide, look for Match 22, Group L, England vs Croatia, Dallas. If you are using an app, search England Croatia rather than scrolling through the tournament hub and hoping the right tile is surfaced first.

Can I stream England vs Croatia?

For English-language streaming in the United States, start with FOX One or the FOX Sports app if your access includes the match. FOX says every World Cup match streams live and on demand through FOX One, with the FOX Sports app also relevant for provider logins.

For Spanish-language streaming, NBCUniversal says World Cup matches stream live in Spanish on Peacock. If you want Spanish commentary, open Peacock or the Telemundo app before the lineups drop; on matchday, finding the right feed is often the annoying part.

Lineups: the England checks that matter

Official lineups are not confirmed until the teams release their match sheets before kickoff. Before that, treat projected XIs as educated guesses, even when they look polished on social media.

The first England check is Bellingham. The Guardian reported from Dallas that Tuchel is expected to start Jude Bellingham over Morgan Rogers at No. 10. If that holds, England are picking power and forward runs behind Harry Kane rather than a calmer possession option.

The second check is the right side. If Saka starts, Tuchel is trusting England's best natural right-wing rhythm despite the fitness question. If Noni Madueke starts instead, it points to caution and a desire to keep Saka available beyond the opener.

The centre-back choice is also worth watching, but it should not become the whole story. The bigger question is whether England's back line gives Declan Rice and Bellingham enough security to press forward without leaving Croatia easy exit lanes.

Saka watch: do not overread warmup noise

The Guardian noted that Tuchel has to decide whether to risk Saka, who has been troubled by an achilles issue. That is exactly the kind of pregame detail that gets overblown before the official sheet lands.

The sensible read is simple: if Saka starts, England believe the risk is manageable. If he is on the bench, it does not have to mean a major setback; it may simply mean Tuchel is thinking about the full group stage, not just the first whistle in Dallas.

Why Croatia still make this awkward

Croatia are not the same side that beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, but the problem can still feel familiar. Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic remain the names that can slow the match down, while Ivan Perisic still gives Croatia a crossing threat England cannot ignore.

That is the point of the 2018 rematch angle. It is not about pretending the same game is being replayed in Dallas. It is about remembering the type of problem Croatia have often given England: rhythm control, patience, set pieces and a refusal to let the favorite turn pressure into a comfortable match.

If England move the ball quickly and get Bellingham facing forward, the game can tilt their way. If Croatia turn it into restarts, duels and careful midfield exchanges, Dallas could become a much more awkward afternoon.

Group L context

England vs Croatia is the headline match in Group L, but Ghana vs Panama later in Toronto matters too. If England win, they immediately put Croatia under pressure before the Ghana and Panama games. If Croatia take a point or more, Group L starts with the sort of compression that makes the second matchday much sharper.

That is why the opening result matters beyond one big-name matchup. A clean England win turns the Ghana match into a chance to control the group. A draw or Croatia win keeps all four teams under pressure before the second round of fixtures.

What to watch in the first 15 minutes

Watch whether England can get Bellingham receiving between Croatia's midfield and defensive line. If he is turning cleanly early, England should find Kane and the wide players often enough to keep Croatia deep.

Also watch Croatia's first spell of possession. If Modric and Kovacic can slow the match without being pressed into hurried clearances, England may have to show more patience than supporters want from the first whistle.

What to read next

Before kickoff, keep this page for the start time, FOX/streaming route, lineup timing and the Saka/Bellingham checks. Once team sheets land, Games Today is the fastest place to confirm status; the match preview is better for formations and matchup detail.

After full time, move to the Group L table. England's next match is Ghana in Boston, while Croatia's next step is Panama in Toronto, so this opener immediately changes how both teams can afford to play next week.

Sources

- FIFA official match schedule

- FOX Sports official broadcast schedule

- NBCUniversal Peacock and Telemundo update

- Guardian Tuchel and England-Croatia report

- Wikimedia Commons image license