Croatia drawn against England in World Cup group stage

Croatia will face England in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, a matchup that instantly stands out as one of the tournament's marquee early fixtures. The two nations have history on this stage – most notably Croatia's extra-time victory in the 2018 semi-finals – and a renewal of that rivalry adds serious weight to your group. The draw pits Zlatko Dalic's side against familiar elite opposition as you look to build on recent deep tournament runs, with Luka Modric's veteran presence and emerging talents like Luka Vušković shaping a squad in transition. Full fixture dates and venues are yet to be confirmed.