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England begin 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia with Kane leading the line

England kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign on Wednesday against Croatia, with captain Harry Kane set to lead the attack as Gareth Southgate's side open their bid for a first major international trophy.

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England begin 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia with Kane leading the line
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England open their 2026 World Cup campaign on Wednesday against Croatia, with captain Harry Kane spearheading the attack as the Three Lions begin another tilt at international football’s biggest prize.

Kane, who finished as the Premier League’s top scorer last season before his move to Bayern Munich, carries England’s primary goalscoring burden once again. The Bayern striker has been England’s most reliable source of goals across recent tournament cycles and will be central to any deep run the side makes in North America.

England’s group-stage schedule will determine the momentum they carry into the knockout rounds, with the Croatia fixture representing a significant early test. The two sides have history at major tournaments — Croatia knocked England out at the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Moscow and defeated them again in the opening game of Euro 2020.

The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the expanded 48-team format meaning more sides advance from the group stage than in previous editions — a structural change that alters the calculus for teams managing early results.

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