England and Croatia square off in Group L play, with the former entering the 2026 World Cup with sky-high expectations.
My England vs. Croatia predictions expect Thomas Tuchel’s men to meet those expectations this afternoon, claiming all three points.
Find out why in my World Cup picks for Wednesday, June 17, with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on FOX.
TOP PICK
Who will win England vs Croatia: England (-138)
When Thomas Tuchel left out technical players like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from his squad, it sent us a signal as bettors. This is a team built with function at its heart, with the importance of roles overriding natural ability.
Tuchel’s England play a 4-2-3-1, and it’s the midfield that is key to how the team will win this. Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson both can shield the back four but also transition the ball forwards, preferably into the wide players.
The main profile of England’s wingers is speed. It’s about using that pace to either beat the full back or to force an overreaction from the defending team and create space elsewhere. So expect Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka to be hitting the byline and squaring it to Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who’ll operate as a second striker at times.
We’ve seen Kane dropping deeper to act as a creator for both Bayern Munich and England in the last 12 months, and he can create huge amounts of space when he does this.
Croatia have lots of experience in their ranks but with pace and power being key components to England’s new identity, it’s unclear how 37-year-old Ivan Perisic and 40-year-old Luka Modric will be able to compete.
Expect England to bully Croatia and beat them via physicality.
England is playable at odds of -150.
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England vs Croatia Over/Under Pick: Under 2.5 (-125)
Ante Budimir has had a good season for Osasuna, but at 34-years old, he’s going to struggle against a defense with the speed of England.
Croatia know that they’re underdogs and will go into this looking to frustrate England, which will inevitably mean a low block to try and limit the danger of England’s wide men getting in behind them.
We’ve seen throughout Tuchel’s managerial career that he’s a master tactician but at heart, a pragmatist. When England have a lead, he will look to manage the game to a winning conclusion. He’s spoken of his desire for the team to press high, and given that this game is in a dome and should have favorable conditions, that is very much possible.
Both Gordon and Saka work just as hard defensively as they do in attack, which gives England an extra layer of protection. With the wingers tracking back, and pressure on Modric in midfield, it should limit the chances of the Croats to score.
England vs Croatia goal scorer pick
Harry Kane (+130)
Getting plus money on Harry Kane feels like a gift. The numbers speak for themselves: He’s England’s top scorer with 79 goals and has scored 32 goals for club and country in just 2026 alone, and 61 for Bayern across the whole season.
Kane has never been quick, so at 32 years old, his powers aren’t diminishing. His two main attributes, his finishing and his reading of space, are still there.
With England’s wide players creating one-on-one matchups out wide, it then becomes a matter of Kane making runs into the near and back post, to slot in any balls that come across.
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England vs Croatia projected lineup
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Stanisic, Erlic, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramic, Perisic; Budimir
England vs Croatia injuries
England: Bukayo Saka (Questionable).
Croatia: Duje Caleta-Car (Questionable).
England vs Croatia weather
It’ll be sunny with temperatures in the 90s, but it should be cool inside the dome.
England vs Croatia odds
| England | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| -138 | Moneyline | +380 |
| +206 | Draw | +260 |
| Over 2.5 (+112) | Total | Under 2.5 (-127) |
Odds courtesy of Kalshi.
How to watch England vs Croatia
Check out FIFA's official 2026 World Cup website for more information.
| Location | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Date | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 |
| Time | 4 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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