England vs. Croatia: World Cup 2026 Group L Opener in Dallas

Q: When and where is England vs. Croatia at the 2026 World Cup?

England vs. Croatia kicks off on June 17, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, branded 'Dallas Stadium' for the tournament. It's Match 22 and the Group L opener.

Summary

England open Group L against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on June 17, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) — a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal Croatia won 2–1 after extra time. Here's the preview, how to get there, and the one eSIM that keeps you online from kickoff to the final whistle. It closes the favourites' openers across June 14–17.

The match: England vs. Croatia, June 17 in Dallas

According to the official Group L schedule, England vs. Croatia is Match 22 and the group opener at AT&T Stadium — the 80,000-seat, retractable-roof venue in Arlington branded “Dallas Stadium” for the tournament. It's a charged rematch: the 2018 semifinal was the night Croatia came from behind to end England's run and reach the final. See the full Group L preview for how England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama line up.

It's the finale of the favourites' mid-June run that began with Germany vs. Curaçao, Spain vs. Cape Verde, France vs. Senegal, and Argentina vs. Algeria. For deeper team notes, read our England fan guide and Croatia fan guide.

Match-day facts

Detail	Info
Date / kickoff	Wed, June 17, 2026 · 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT
Venue	AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium), Arlington, TX
Group	Group L (with Ghana, Panama) · Match 22
Nearest airport	Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), ~13 mi

Getting to AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium sits in Arlington between Dallas and Fort Worth with no rail line, so plan ahead: pre-paid parking, the Arlington Trolley, or rideshare with a set pickup point. June afternoons in North Texas are hot, but the retractable roof and AC keep the bowl comfortable. Full options are in our Dallas getting-there guide, and our eat & stay guide covers where to base yourself nearby.

eSIM vs roaming vs pocket Wi-Fi for World Cup travel

Option	Cost	Setup time	Coverage
eSIM	Low	~5 min (pre-install on Wi-Fi)	Excellent (local carrier)
Carrier roaming	High	Instant (already enabled)	Medium (partner-dependent)
Pocket Wi-Fi	Medium	Airport pickup / rental	Good (extra device to charge)

Mobile tickets in the FIFA World Cup 26™ app, parking-lot navigation, rideshare back to your hotel — match day runs on data, and stadium Wi-Fi buckles under 80,000-plus people. A North America eSIM puts you on T-Mobile or AT&T the moment you land at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and follows you to any other host city without swapping plans. From US$5 with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card — see the Dallas connectivity guide for the full rundown.

FAQ

QWhen and where is England vs. Croatia at the 2026 World Cup?

AEngland vs. Croatia kicks off June 17, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, branded “Dallas Stadium” for the tournament. It's Match 22 and the Group L opener.

QWhat group are England and Croatia in for World Cup 2026?

ABoth are in Group L alongside Ghana and Panama. The match is a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal, which Croatia won 2–1 after extra time on their way to the final.

QHow do I get to AT&T Stadium for the match?

AAT&T Stadium is in Arlington between Dallas and Fort Worth with no rail line, so plan for pre-paid parking, the Arlington Trolley, or rideshare with a set pickup point. June afternoons are hot, so the retractable roof and AC help.

QWhat's the best way to stay connected on match day?

AA local North America eSIM rides US 5G networks built for stadium crowds, while international roaming often slows to a crawl when 80,000 fans are online at once. Install it before you fly and it works across every host city.

Bottom line

England vs. Croatia settles old scores from 2018 and closes the favourites' opening week. Sort your plan to AT&T Stadium, scan the Group L preview, and grab a World Cup 2026 eSIM so every ticket scan, map, and rideshare just works.