Croatia and England prepare for World Cup opener in Dallas

The FIFA World Cup kicks off with Croatia facing England on June 17 in Dallas, Texas. Croatia's squad has been based in Alexandria, Virginia, where they held an open training session attended by over 800 fans and Croatian Ambassador Peter Šimunović, who praised strong American support for the team and highlighted cultural events organised by the embassy.

In England, media reports reveal a leak from the national team camp. Four players – Rio Ngumohi, Joshua King, Alex Scott and Ethan Nwaneri – have left the squad, and speculation surrounds the starting XI. While goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and striker Harry Kane are seen as guaranteed starters, there is debate over whether Jude Bellingham will start or sit on the bench, with other candidates such as Morgan Rogers and Marc Guehi mentioned for midfield and defence positions.