England vs Croatia - World Cup

The World Cup returns to the home ground on June 17, 2026, where England and Croatia will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. Rush will take over under centre for the Falcons as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, with the team’s quarterback situation taking an unexpected turn heading into the season opener.

There is little to choose between England and Croatia on paper, and the World Cup encounter should reflect that balance. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. Croatia will travel with intent, knowing that a positive result here could kick-start their campaign. If you're Arsenal and wanting to win the Premier League, and you take six points off those teams, then you're near-on winning the Premier League.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. England will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Croatia must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. Amad won possession in the PSG half before laying the ball off for Bryan Mbeumo to score.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. But so impressive was the midfielder in that win at Auxerre that 11 senior starts later the now 20-year-old midfielder has signed for Newcastle for £35.5m – and some consider it a bargain.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the World Cup standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says a verdict on the alleged charges against Manchester City "has taken longer than expected".