Croatia is looking to replicate its historic World Cup victories over England when the two teams potentially meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, currently co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
In the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Russia, Croatia defeated England 2-1 after extra time, with goals from Ivan Perišić and Mario Mandžukić. That victory sent Croatia to its first-ever World Cup final, where they lost to France. The two teams also met in the 2022 World Cup group stage, with Croatia winning 4-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
As of June 2026, Croatia's squad includes experienced players like Luka Modrić, who at 40 years old continues to lead the team. England, under manager Gareth Southgate, features stars such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. The exact match schedule for a potential Croatia-England clash depends on group stage results and knockout round draws.
Both teams have strong recent tournament records. Croatia reached the semi-finals in 2022, while England finished fourth in the same tournament. The 2026 World Cup features an expanded 48-team format, with 16 groups of three teams each.
