Croatia vs England World Cup opener takes place in Dallas

The opening match of the World Cup group stage pits Croatia against England at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Croatia, coached by Zlatko Dalić, will line up a core featuring Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić and other veterans, while Dalić stressed the difficulty of the English side, noting their strong attack and set‑piece threat.

Former Croatian star Davor Šuker, serving as a tournament ambassador, called England the favourite but reminded that Croatians “love playing against the big teams”. He praised Modrić’s career and hinted at a possible future move to Real Madrid.

Ahead of the game, thousands of Croatian supporters gathered in Dallas for a parade organized by the “American‑Croatian friendship” association, waving a 100‑metre flag and drawing large crowds of expatriates and local spectators. Minister Damir Habijan visited the fan march, describing the atmosphere as “magnificent”. English media reported that stadium security limits fan flags to fire‑resistant sizes, and FIFA confirmed that both national anthems will be played over the stadium PA rather than performed live.

The match is expected to attract global viewership, with media outlets from the UK, Croatia and other nations focusing on tactical matchups and the enthusiastic supporter presence in the United States.