England face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L as World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 17

Thomas Tuchel’s England will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17 in Arlington, Texas, as the Three Lions finalise preparations for the tournament.

England’s Group L schedule takes them across three venues in the United States. After the Croatia opener, they face Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 23, before completing the group stage against Panama in New Jersey on June 27.

The fixtures represent England’s first World Cup appearance under Tuchel, who took charge of the national side following the conclusion of Euro 2024. The group draw has handed England a theoretically manageable path through the opening round, though Croatia — who reached the final in 2018 and the semi-finals in 2022 — remain a familiar and testing opponent at major tournaments.