England's 2026 World Cup opener: date, opponent and how to follow
Short overview
England begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June in Dallas. The match is a repeat of the 2018 semi-final. Fans can follow via BBC radio, live text, and highlights.
England will kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June at 21:00 BST in Dallas, Texas. The match is a repeat of the 2018 semi-final between the two nations, which Croatia won 2-1 in Moscow.
Group stage details
The fixture is the first of England's three matches in Group L. Thomas Tuchel's side will also face Ghana and Panama in the group stage. The full group schedule will be confirmed in due course.
How to follow the match
Fans can listen to live radio commentary via BBC Radio 5 Live online and through the BBC Sounds app. Live text commentary will be available during the match on the BBC Sport website and app. Match highlights will be posted shortly after full-time on the BBC Sport website and app, as well as on BBC iPlayer. For those who wish to watch highlights without spoilers, a no-spoiler option is available at bbc.co.uk/nospoilers.
This article is part of BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything series. Readers can submit questions to the team.
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