LONDON (Interstat) — England and Croatia open their World Cup campaigns Wednesday, June 17, at Wembley Stadium in a Group B matchup that carries early tournament stakes for two sides with contrasting recent form.

England enters the match unbeaten in six qualifiers, having outscored opponents 16-0 during that stretch. The Three Lions closed their qualifying schedule with a 2-0 victory over Albania on Nov. 16, following a 2-0 win against Serbia three days earlier. Gareth Southgate’s squad also posted shutouts against Latvia (5-0 on Oct. 14), Serbia (5-0 on Sept. 9), Andorra (2-0 on Sept. 6) and Andorra again (1-0 on June 7, 2025).

Croatia, by contrast, arrives after a 2-2 draw with North Macedonia on May 3 — a result that snapped a five-match winning streak. Before that, Zlatko Dalić’s side edged Montenegro 3-2 on Nov. 17, then defeated Faroe Islands 3-1 and Gibraltar 3-0 in November and October. Croatia also played a scoreless draw with Czechia on Oct. 9, and earlier posted a 1-0 win over Faroe Islands and a 7-0 thrashing of Gibraltar in 2025.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, reflecting the tightness expected between two teams familiar with high-stakes meetings. England and Croatia have faced off in major tournaments recently, including the 2018 World Cup semifinal and the 2020 European Championship group stage.

Both sides will use the match to set the tone for the remainder of the group. After Wednesday, England faces Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27. Croatia’s next games are also against those same opponents — first at Panama on June 23, then at home against Ghana on June 27.

England’s defense, which has not conceded a goal in its last six matches, will be tested by a Croatia attack that has scored 11 goals in its past five games. Croatia’s midfield, traditionally its strength, will look to control possession against an England side that has been clinical on the counter.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time at Wembley, where England has not lost in a competitive match since 2020. The winner will seize early control of Group B; a draw would leave both teams with work to do in the remaining fixtures.