Two European heavyweights will face off as Matchday 1 of the 2026 World Cup comes to an end.
Group L action gets started with England vs. Croatia, live this afternoon from the home of the NFL Dallas Cowboys.
England currently sits at No. 4 in FIFA’s world rankings, and after a quarterfinal elimination in 2022, it’s beginning to look like now-or-never for The Three Lions. The squad is stacked this year, with captain Harry Kane returning for his third World Cup, alongside a group of stars that includes Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.
England vs. Croatia: what to know
- What: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group stage
- When: June 17, 4 p.m. ET
- Where: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
- Channel: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish)
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
The Three Lions will face their first World Cup test in Croatia, a team that went 2-0-2 in the qualifying period. The Vatreni, led by captain Luka Modric in his fifth World Cup, have been on the podium in both of the last two World Cups. They finished second in 2018 and third in 2022.
Here’s everything you need to know about England’s first match in the World Cup 2026, including where to tune in.
England vs. Croatia time
Today’s (June 17) England vs. Croatia match at the World Cup is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. ET.
How to watch England vs. Croatia for free
If you don’t have cable or an antenna, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the World Cup for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching sports live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes FOX, FS1 and Telemundo as part of its 125+ channels.
You can also stream World Cup matches for free with a free trial of FOX One. After three days, you’ll pay $19.99/month and gain access to every World Cup match.
More coverage on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
England World Cup schedule
| Date and time | Opponent | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| June 17, 4 p.m. ET | Croatia (World Cup – Group L) | FOX |
| June 23, 4 p.m. ET | Ghana (World Cup – Group L) | FOX |
| June 27, 5 p.m. ET | Panama (World Cup – Group L) | FOX |
Croatia World Cup schedule
| Date and time | Opponent | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| June 17, 4 p.m. ET | England (World Cup – Group L) | FOX |
| June 23, 7 p.m. ET | Panama (World Cup – Group L) | FOX |
| June 27, 5 p.m. ET | Ghana (World Cup – Group L) | FS1 |
England World Cup roster
Goalkeepers:
- Jordan Pickford
- Dean Henderson
- James Trafford
Defenders:
- Ezri Konsa
- Nico O’Reilly
- John Stones
- Marc Guéhi
- Tino Livramento
- Dan Burn
- Reece James
- Djed Spence
- Jarell Quansah
Midfielders:
- Declan Rice
- Elliot Anderson
- Jude Bellingham
- Jordan Henderson
- Kobbie Mainoo
- Morgan Rogers
- Eberechi Eze
Forwards:
- Bukayo Saka
- Harry Kane (captain)
- Marcus Rashford
- Anthony Gordon
- Ollie Watkins
- Noni Madueke
- Ivan Tony
Croatia World Cup roster
Goalkeepers:
- Dominik Livakovic
- Ivor Pandur
- Dominik Kotarski
Defenders:
- Josip Stanisic
- Marin Pongracic
- Josko Gvardiol
- Duje Caleta-Car
- Josip Sutalo
- Luka Vuskovic
- Martin Erlic
Midfielders:
- Nikola Moro
- Mateo Kovacic
- Luka Modric (captain)
- Nikola Vlasic
- Mario Pasalic
- Martin Baturina
- Petar Sucic
- Kristijan Jakic
- Toni Fruk
- Luka Sucic
Forwards:
- Andrej Kramaric
- Ante Budimir
- Ivan Perisic
- Igor Matanovic
- Marco Pasalic
- Petar Musa
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.