England 4-2 Croatia Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026: Kane, Bellingham, Rashford Score As Three Lions Seal Opening Win

Greetings, we are back with our FIFA World Cup 2026 live blog England and Croatia face-off in the Group F first match. The action is about to begin, so stay tuned for all the live updates from Dallas Stadium.

Match Details: England vs Croatia

Location: Arlington, Texas, USA

Stadium: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium)

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Kick-off Time: 01:30 AM (IST) on Thursday, June 18, 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be telecast live on Unite8 Sports network on television. For live streaming, one can catch the action on the Zee5 app and website.

Total Matches: 11

England Won: 6

Croatia Won: 3

Draws: 2

Jordan Pickford; Nico O'Reilly, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Reece James; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, Noni Madueke; Harry Kane

ENGLAND SUBSTITUTES: Marc Guehi, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Dean Henderson, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Eberechi Eze, Ivan Toney, James Trafford, Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah

Dominik Livakovic; Josko Gvardiol, Luka Vuskovic, Josip Sutalo; Ivan Perisic, Petar Sucic, Luka Modric, Josip Stanisic; Martin Baturina, Mario Pasalic, Petar Musa

CROATIA SUBSTITUTES: Marin Pongracic, Duje Caleta-Car, Nikola Moro, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir, Ivor Pandur, Nikola Vlasic, Kristijan Jakic, Toni Fruk, Igor Matanovic, Luka Sucic, Dominik Kotarski, Marco Pasalic, Martin Erlic

The wait is finally over! Referee Clement Turpin has blown his whistle at the Dallas Stadium, signaling the start of this highly anticipated Group L clash between England and Croatia.

Both sides are looking to make a statement in their 2026 World Cup opener. England, under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, has fielded a vibrant starting XI featuring Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, while Croatia—led by the evergreen Luka Modrić in his fifth World Cup—brings a wealth of tournament experience to the pitch in Arlington. Stay tuned for live updates as this heavyweight European battle unfolds.

PENALTY SAVED, BUT A RETAKE IS ORDERED! Harry Kane’s stuttering effort from the spot is denied by Dominik Livakovic, who dives to his left to make the save. But hold on—the referee is signaling for a retake! Josko Gvardiol was spotted encroaching in the penalty area before the kick was taken, handing England a second life from 12 yards out.

The chaos unfolded after a spell of pressure from England. Reece James whipped in a dangerous cross that was headed into the air by Vuskovic, allowing Harry Kane to bring it down, spin, and fire a shot that was deflected behind for a corner.

From the ensuing outswinger taken by Declan Rice, Noni Madueke went down under pressure from Luka Modric. It looked like the Croatian captain caught the Arsenal man in the midriff while attempting a clearance, and the referee didn't hesitate to point to the spot. What a whirlwind start for the Three Lions!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL! Harry Kane makes no mistake this time!

Learning from his earlier stuttering effort, the England captain steps up with renewed focus and emphatically smashes the ball into the bottom right corner. Dominik Livakovic, who guessed correctly the first time, dives the wrong way on this occasion, leaving him helpless as the ball ripples the net.

If at first you don’t succeed, try again—and Kane has done exactly that, giving England a precious 1–0 lead in this high-stakes World Cup opener. The Three Lions have their breakthrough!

England look dangerous! Jude Bellingham picks up the ball and surges forward, driving deep into the Croatian penalty area with characteristic pace. The Three Lions were short on support in the final third, however, and the Croatian defense swarmed him effectively, muscling the midfielder off the ball just as he looked to unleash a strike. A promising attacking move is ultimately thwarted by a resilient Croatian backline.

What a spectacular attacking sequence from England!

The Three Lions are turning up the heat in Dallas. Harry Kane pulls the strings, spraying a pinpoint diagonal ball out wide to Noni Madueke. Madueke’s dangerous low cross rips across the face of the Croatian goal, causing absolute chaos in the penalty area. Jude Bellingham, making a perfectly timed run from deep, charges in to meet it, but he just cannot stretch far enough to apply the finishing touch. The move deserved a goal, but Croatia somehow survives the onslaught!

CROATIA ARE BACK ON LEVEL TERMS!

What a brilliant piece of individual play from Luka Sučić to unlock the England defense. He showed incredible composure to turn John Stones inside out before sliding a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Martin Baturina.

Baturina didn't hesitate, unleashing a thunderous strike toward the top-left corner. Jordan Pickford managed to get a strong hand to the ball, but the power behind Baturina's effort was too much to keep out. The ball hits the back of the net, and we are all square! A massive response from the Vatreni!

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL! ENGLAND ARE BACK IN FRONT!

Harry Kane strikes again! It’s another masterclass in set-piece delivery from Declan Rice, who whips an inch-perfect outswinging corner directly onto the penalty spot. Kane, timing his run from deep to perfection, rises above the defense and thunders an emphatic header into the bottom-left corner.

There was nothing Dominik Livaković could do to stop that. England lead 2–1 in this pulsating contest!

GOOOOOOOAAAALLLL! CROATIA ARE LEVEL ONCE MORE!

Just as England looked to be heading into the break with the lead, they completely switch off defensively, and Croatia make them pay. Mario Pašalić clips a clever ball over the top, finding Ivan Perišić, who executes a brilliant cushioned header back into the path of Petar Musa. Musa stays composed and expertly volleys the ball past Jordan Pickford to level the scores.

That spectacular team move proves to be the final action of a breathless first half, as the referee immediately blows the half-time whistle. We go into the interval all square at 2–2!

The half-time whistle has sounded in Dallas, and it’s a scoreline that will leave England feeling significantly frustrated. Despite taking the lead twice, the Three Lions head into the interval locked at 2-2 after being pegged back by a resilient Croatian side just moments before the break.

The drama began early when Harry Kane—following a dramatic retake after his initial spot-kick was saved by Dominik Livaković—finally broke the deadlock. Croatia responded emphatically through a powerful strike from Martin Baturina, but Kane soon restored England’s advantage with a thumping header from a pinpoint Declan Rice corner.

However, England’s inability to maintain concentration allowed Croatia to strike back at the death, with Petar Musa volleying home following a clever cushioned header from Ivan Perišić. While England have dominated the attacking metrics—boasting a superior xG of 1.36 compared to Croatia’s 0.43—their defensive lapses have kept the Vatreni firmly in the hunt.

It has been an absorbing opening 45 minutes, and with everything to play for, the second half promises to be an absolute cracker!

Whatever Thomas Tuchel said to his side at the interval, it has worked wonders! England have come out with renewed intensity, and they have their reward thanks to a moment of pure brilliance from Jude Bellingham.

After Anthony Gordon—who has added fresh impetus—pings a sharp ball around the corner looking for Noni Madueke, it is Bellingham who takes total ownership. The Real Madrid ace drives fearlessly into the penalty area, gliding past the challenge before firing an unerring finish past Dominik Livaković and into the bottom-left corner.

It is a stunning piece of individual skill, and the Three Lions have reclaimed the lead at 3–2! Dallas is absolutely rocking as England look to seize control of this Group L opener.

England are relentless! The tempo has shifted dramatically in this second half, and the Three Lions are camped inside the Croatian half. After Harry Kane released Noni Madueke down the right, a clever attempt to slip in Reece James resulted in another England corner.

Declan Rice whipped in yet another pinpoint delivery—his set-piece service has been lethal today—and Matt O'Reilly rose highest to plant a thumping header toward goal. Dominik Livaković produced a miraculous reflex save to deny him, and before England could scramble the loose ball home, the Croatian goalkeeper was back on his feet to miraculously block Anthony Gordon’s follow-up effort!

It is an absolute scramble in the box, and somehow, the score remains 3–2. The pressure from England is suffocating, but Croatia is hanging on by a thread!

England have opted to take the sting out of the game, slightly lowering the frantic tempo they established at the start of the second half. It is a sensible adjustment—maintaining that level of intensity for a prolonged period was always going to be an arduous task.

With a 3–2 lead to protect, the Three Lions seem content to control possession and manage the clock as they approach the hydration break. Expect them to regroup and sharpen their focus during this pause, looking to recharge before launching another wave of attacks to try and put this result beyond Croatia's reach. The break comes at a pivotal moment, offering both sides a chance to catch their breath in this high-octane encounter.

Huge intervention from Jordan Pickford! Croatia, looking for a way back into this pulsating contest, carved out a dangerous opportunity as Marco Pašalić cut inside from the right flank. The Croatian winger unleashed a powerful, dipping left-footed drive toward the far corner, but England’s number one was equal to it.

Pickford showed excellent reflexes, diving sharply to his right to palm the ball away to safety. It was a crucial stop that preserves England's narrow 3–2 lead as the pressure begins to mount in these final stages of the match. England’s goalkeeper remains calm under fire!

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL! MARCUS RASHFORD MAKES IT 4-2!

That surely puts the result beyond doubt! England have put together a sublime team move to extend their lead, started by a driving run from Bukayo Saka. Saka slipped a pass through to Morgan Rogers, and when the ball took a lucky deflection, it fell perfectly back into the path of the Arsenal man.

Saka kept his composure, looked up, and spotted Rashford in acres of space on the left flank. Rashford didn’t panic; he expertly sat his defender down with a sharp feint before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner, leaving Dominik Livaković with no chance. It was a clinical, high-quality finish to what looks like a match-winning goal. England have surely secured the points here in Dallas!

Full-Time: England 4-2 Croatia – Three Lions Begin in Style!

The full-time whistle echoes around Dallas Stadium, confirming a pulsating 4–2 victory for England to kick off their Group L campaign! It was a quintessential tournament opener—dramatic, end-to-end, and ultimately rewarded the side that maintained the highest intensity.

The first half was a breathless, back-and-forth affair. Harry Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Martin Baturina equalized for Croatia. Kane struck again with a thumping header, only for Petar Musa to level the scores once more right on the stroke of halftime, leaving the sides deadlocked at the break.

England emerged after the interval a side transformed, dominating proceedings with a superior xG of 2.80 compared to Croatia's 0.70. Jude Bellingham restored the lead shortly after the restart with a brilliant drilled effort, and Marcus Rashford eventually put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute, sweeping home a Bukayo Saka pass.

Thomas Tuchel will be thrilled to secure three points in what appeared to be England’s toughest group-stage test. The Three Lions now turn their focus to Tuesday’s clash against Ghana in Boston, while Croatia look to bounce back against Panama in Toronto.

What a barnstormer to start the journey. Until next time!