England's quest for World Cup glory in 2026 will commence against Croatia in a highly anticipated match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The Three Lions, drawn into Group L, will face their 2018 World Cup semi-final conquerors on Wednesday, June 17, with kickoff set for 9 pm UK time (3 pm local time in Texas).
The match schedule announcement on Saturday followed Friday's group stage draw, adding to the excitement surrounding the tournament. England manager Thomas Tuchel and his squad had to wait until Saturday to learn the specific venues and kickoff times for their Group L fixtures.
England's Group L campaign will continue on June 23 against Ghana in Boston, with kickoff scheduled for 4 pm local time (9 pm UK time). The final group stage match will see England take on Panama at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 27, with a 5 pm local time kickoff (10 pm UK time).
Scotland, the other UK nation to qualify for the World Cup, will face Haiti in Boston with a late 2 am UK time kickoff on June 14. Their second match is against Morocco in Boston on June 19 at 6 pm local time (11 pm UK time), followed by a high-profile clash with Brazil in Miami on June 24 at 6 pm local time (11 pm UK time).
The 2026 World Cup marks the first time three nations will jointly host the tournament: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This edition will also be the first to feature 48 teams, expanded from 32 in previous years. The teams will be divided into twelve groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32. The final will be held on July 19.
The expansion to 48 teams means a total of 104 matches will be played, an increase from the 64 matches in the 2022 edition. These matches will take place across 16 venues in the three host countries.
For fans in the United Kingdom, the confirmed kickoff times mean some late nights, particularly for those following Scotland's progress. However, the opportunity to watch their national teams compete on the world's biggest stage will be a worthwhile sacrifice for many.
England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, has acknowledged the challenges posed by Group L. He described Croatia and Ghana as "regulars in World Cups" and expressed a commitment to thoroughly researching Panama. Tuchel emphasized the importance of focusing on the group stage, aiming to "escape" and ultimately win it.
