England kick off their World Cup 2026 campaign tonight with a stern test against Croatia as Thomas Tuchel dreams of ending the country’s 60-year wait for glory on the biggest stage.
The Three Lions go into their opener off the back of a bitter injury blow, with defender Tino Livramento ruled out for the entire tournament with a calf problem. Tuchel has called up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah as a surprise replacement, with Trent Alexander-Arnold snubbed.
But as Ballon d’Or-chasing Harry Kane begins his bid for the Golden Boot, 38-year-old Lionel Messi has set the bar for the World Cup after hitting a stunning hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time goalscoring record of 16 at the tournament.
Elsewhere, Ghana saw their appeal over the decision to deny Thomas Partey entry into Canada rejected, meaning he will miss the country’s opener against Panama tonight.
World Cup 2026 - live updates
- England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia tonight | Kick-off at 9pm BST, live on ITV1
- Three Lions dealt Tino Livramento injury blow with Thomas Tuchel explaining surprise call-up
- Lionel Messi equals World Cup all-time goalscoring record with stunning Argentina hat-trick
- Thomas Partey visa appeal rejected by Canada
- World Cup 2026 fixtures, results and group tables
- MIGUEL DELANEY: How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in critical World Cup opener
- COMPETITION: Win a copy of Miguel Delaney’s States of Play
Harry Kane begins pursuit of Messi, Mbappe and the World Cup’s Golden Boot in the form of his life
16:02 , Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas
Harry Kane was sitting in a press conference ahead of England’s first World Cup game against Croatia just as Norway were wrapping up their 4-1 win over Iraq. Had he noticed Erling Haaland’s two goals? Had he seen Kylian Mbappe score twice too? Of course he had. The race for the Golden Boot has begun, as Kane is well aware of who he’s up against.
Kane was asked to name best strikers in the tournament, by a Swedish journalist fishing for a compliment after Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both scored against Tunisia.
“If you look at the one playing right now, Erling, and Mbappe scoring a couple for France earlier, they’ve both had fantastic years as goalscorers and strikers, two of the top, top players,” Kane said. “They’ve obviously both started the tournament really well today, so yeah, apart from Sweden, I’ll probably vote with those two as two of the best in the World Cup.”
Harry Kane gets set to chase Messi, Mbappe and the World Cup’s Golden Boot
WATCH: England fans take over Dallas pub ahead of World Cup opener
15:54 , Will Castle
FA chief outlines stance on Gianni Infantino’s controversial run for Fifa re-election
15:46 , Miguel Delaney
The Football Association will decide their position on another term for Fifa president Gianni Infantino during a “board review... in due course”, according to chief executive Mark Bullingham.
A number of federations have already endorsed the controversial Swiss official, despite numerous issues around this World Cup and growing dissent within Fifa as a consequence.
The Independent reported last week that multiple sources had spoken of impressions being made on them to support Infantino.
FA chief outlines stance on Gianni Infantino’s controversial run for Fifa re-election
Saka's fitness 'gamble'
15:38 , Will Castle
Bukayo Saka will continue to “take the gamble” on his fitness to be involved in England’s World Cup campaign.
The Arsenal winger has been managing an Achilles injury that dogged the end of his domestic campaign, playing through the pain barrier, and Thomas Tuchel said during the pre-tournament camp in Florida that he does not think he can yet play 90 minutes.
“As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest,” he said. “You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same.
“At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that.
“But I am feeling a lot better than I did in March, and I’m ready to go.I don’t want to say anything that goes against the manager, but between Mikel and Arsenal’s medical team and England’s medical team, since March, they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team.
“I am feeling better than I have felt for the last few months. I am ready to go.”
Bukayo Saka admits fitness ‘gamble’ ahead of England’s World Cup opener
Full England squad
15:30 , Will Castle
A quick reminder of what Thomas Tuchel has to work with:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), John Stones (Manchester City), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ivan Toney (Al Ahli)
How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in critical World Cup opener
15:22 , Miguel Delaney in Dallas
In the final hours before England’s opening World Cup match, Thomas Tuchel hasn’t felt the need for any extra rousing speech about what the competition is. The manager senses the right mood among the squad as it is.
“They know,” Tuchel says. “We all know, and I think you have to grow into a tournament. At the moment, I don’t feel that any emotional fuel is needed to make everyone clear what is happening. But at the moment I see it even as an advantage that we’re focused on what we can actually influence. We don’t put it in the bigger picture - just put it where it is. We know,” he repeated.
Some of the players certainly know the challenge of Croatia. They’re all well aware of Luka Modric’s quality, of course, especially since he’s been central to three of four meetings between the sides since 2018.
How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in crucial World Cup opener
England vs Croatia prediction and betting tips
15:14 , Will Castle
England qualified for this tournament with a 100 percent record, but it counts for nothing if they can’t continue the form when it matters most.
With both sides still getting used to scorching conditions, we’re expecting another close scoreline, but we are backing England to get off to a winning start.
England vs Croatia prediction: England to win by one goal - 5/2 William Hill
England vs Croatia prediction: 2026 World Cup betting tips & odds
England vs Croatia: Head-to-head
15:06 , Will Castle
England and Croatia have met once in the World Cup before, and we all know how that went. On that occasion, it was Croatia who came out on top, knocking the Three Lions out of the 2018 tournament at the semi-final stage.
The last three meetings between the two sides have also been cagey affairs, with nothing more than a single goal separating them.
After playing out a goalless draw in October 2018 in the Nations League, England won the return match 2-1 a month later when goals from Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane saw England come from a goal down at Wembley to secure the win.
The last meeting was in June 2021 at the Euros when Raheem Sterling scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half as both sides went on to qualify from Group D.
Head-to-head record:
England wins: 6
Croatia wins: 3
Draws: 2
Listen: Copa Independent
15:04 , Will Castle
When is England vs Croatia?
14:58 , Will Castle
We are six hours away from England beginning their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia!
The clash kicks off at 9pm BST (3pm CT) tonight at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Viewers in the UK can watch the match free-to-air on ITV 1, ITV X, STV and STV Player with coverage starting at 8pm BST. It can also be live streamed on ITVX.
How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?
14:50 , Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas
The wait is almost over. Eighteen months after he was unveiled as England manager, Thomas Tuchel will lead the Three Lions into the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, with the express goal of “putting a second star on the shirt”. For fans, the extreme psychological sport that is watching England in a major tournament begins.
Qualification was perfect – no draws, no defeats, no goals conceded – but some of England’s friendly performances have been uninspiring and even at this late stage, there remain some questions over exactly who makes up England’s best XI as they prepare to face Croatia in Dallas.
Lawrence Ostlere takes you through how England will shape up against Croatia:
How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?
Get your predictions in!
14:42 , Will Castle
The route to the final England could take at World Cup 2026
14:42 , Will Castle
Group fixtures
17 June: England vs Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
23 June: England vs Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
27 June: England vs Panama | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Round of 32
1 July: England v third-place finisher in Group E/H/I/J/K | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Round of 16
5 July: England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Quarter-final
11 July: England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Semi-final
15 July: England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Final:
19 July: England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Inside Thomas Tuchel’s England reign and how the ‘impossible job’ became perfect for a German
14:34 , Miguel Delaney
The smiles said enough. After Thomas Tuchel’s first training sessions with England, one of the players’ assessments was instant. “That’s what an elite environment is supposed to feel like.”
The squad still have a great respect for Gareth Southgate, but they all knew Tuchel’s coaching was closer to what they’re used to at club level. The system was instantly more sophisticated, with more depth to triangulated moves and more integrated pressing.
Tuchel, on the other side, was greatly enjoying the sessions. He was getting even more excited about the potential of the team.
How England’s ‘impossible job’ became the perfect role for a German manager
Latest England vs Croatia odds
14:26 , Will Castle
England - 3/4
Draw - 14/5
Croatia - 22/5
Trump gifted World Cup jersey at G7 summit
14:18 , Will Castle
US president Donald Trump is meeting with world leaders at the G7 Summit in France this week and one of them presented him with a belated birthday gift.
“Happy belated 80th birthday,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after presenting Trump with the German national team football jersey. “After all, we're on the same team.”
Photos showed Trump smiling up at Merz as he held the Germany jersey, complete with “Trump” and the number 47 on the back, during a working session of world leaders related to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
England fans ignore police pleas to leave Dallas pub after drinking 5,000 beers
14:10 , Will Castle
Hundreds of England supporters in Dallas reportedly defied police requests to disperse from a pub, having consumed over 5,000 beers ahead of the Three Lions’ World Cup opener.
Thomas Tuchel’s squad is set to commence their campaign against Croatia, carrying the hopes of a nation. Captain Harry Kane has expressed confidence, believing this presents one of their best opportunities to secure a major tournament victory.
Global attention will focus on the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium on Wednesday evening, as the team aims to emulate Sir Alf Ramsey’s legendary 1966 heroes.
England fans ignore police pleas to leave Dallas pub after drinking 5,000 beers
Turkish commentator sacked after bizarre mix-up
14:02 , Will Castle
Turkish state broadcaster TRT has removed a commentator from its World Cup roster after he mixed up Iran and New Zealand.
TRT said in a statement late on Tuesday that the commentator, identified by Turkish media as Murat Ekrem Çimen, had been withdrawn from the World Cup broadcast team in the USA pending investigation. It added that he would not continue to comment on matches during the tournament.
According to reports in Turkish media, Cimen referred to Iran’s attacks as New Zealand’s and described New Zealand’s moves as Iran’s during the opening minutes of the broadcast. The teams shared a 2-2 draw on Monday night in Group G.
TRT said the mistake was “unacceptable” under its broadcasting standards.
“We apologise to our viewers and the public for this error,” it said. “It is unacceptable for TRT that someone with over 30 years of experience in sports broadcasting would make such a mistake.”
World Cup attendance record broken for single day on Tuesday
13:54 , Will Castle
The four World Cup matches on Tuesday set a new record for the most attended day in the history of the tournament.
A new mark of 281,223 eclipsed the previous record of 277,070 set at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, which also featured four matches.
The combined figure came from matches between France and Senegal (80,545), Argentina and Algeria (69,045), Austria and Jordan (68,527) and Iraq and Norway (63,106).
Fifa say the current average attendance at the 2026 World Cup is 65,483 and is on track to surpass the tournament’s best cumulative record of 3.5 million in 1994.
England fans face flag ban in Dallas
13:47 , Will Castle
England fans will be restricted from draping their famed St George’s flags on rails behind the goals, according to The Telegraph.
For those sitting elsewhere, a ban will be enforced on any displays which interfere with the stadium’s LED hoardings.
Fifa and stadium chiefs say the decision to stop LED signage being obscured by flags is down to “safety and security” rather than a painstaking attempt to keep branding and advertising visible.
One fan said: “England fans are famous around the world for our flags. It is part of the trademark of England fans – the George Crosses, the Union Jacks, the clubs we support. The flags are always there and to ban them is a major kick in the teeth.”
Kane on equalling Beckham's cap tally
13:46 , Will Castle
England captain Harry Kane never expected to join David Beckham on 115 caps when the pair posed for a now famous photo 21 years ago.
“He was a hero of mine growing up,” the Bayern Munich striker said. “I was a massive England fan and him being England captain, he was a big inspiration to me, just the way he worked on the pitch, but also how he was off the pitch as well.
“We were from the same area, we went to the same school, so he was a hero of mine.
“We’ve had contact, not recently, but obviously over the previous tournaments. We exchange messages every now and then and after winning trophies or whatever it might be, we keep in contact.
“Looking back at that picture with me and him and obviously my wife there, who was just a friend at the time, it’s a pretty crazy picture when we all look back at it.
“For me personally to be where I am now, it’s always hard to really take it all in.
“When you’re young, especially at that age, I think I was 10-11 years old, you just have dreams and aspirations of trying to become a footballer.
“Now to be hopefully making 115 caps and going to my sixth tournament, being captain for as long as I have, the goalscoring record, all these things that I’ve managed to achieve along the way are extremely proud things, but things I won’t truly be able to appreciate until whenever I stop because as you guys know it’s just about the next thing, the next moment.
“Being better, improving, and that will be my mindset until the day that I stop playing.”
Rashford on the move - but not to these clubs
13:38 , Will Castle
England’s Marcus Rashford will be available for £40m this summer – but not to Manchester City or Liverpool.
The Telegraph reports that Manchester United would not countenance selling the forward to their rivals after Barcelona did not take up an option to sign him permanently - instead splashing out on Three Lions team-mate Anthony Gordon.
If they can get Rashford off the books, United are looking at West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville as they eye up a winger, according to the Athletic. Summerville is currently at the World Cup with the Netherlands and scored in their opening match against Japan.
Meanwhile, Brighton have had an offer of £35m turned down for teenage Spurs defender Luka Vuskovic, according to the Sun.
Tuchel says England job is 'an honour' - but won't sing national anthem yet
13:30 , Will Castle
Thomas Tuchel is not yet ready to sing the national anthem but says he considers England home as he prepares to lead the nation into this summer’s World Cup.
The German coach’s passion and love for his adopted homeland has been clear since his unveiling 20 months ago, but he does not feel like he has yet earned the right to sing ‘God Save the King’.
“Not yet,” Tuchel said. “I think we are not there yet. At the very end maybe.
“I am still a bit shy. I don’t want to offend people and don’t want to have the focus on that now.”
Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa defends unusual World Cup photo: ‘I’m not a model’
13:22 , Will Castle
The enigmatic Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa, who is affectionately known as “El Loco”, has once again captured attention with his distinctive style, this time through an unconventional official World Cup portrait.
The former Leeds boss was pictured looking downwards, rather than into the lens, for the photograph displayed on television screens before matches at the tournament.
When pressed about the unusual image following his side’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in Miami on Monday night, the bespectacled 70-year-old offered a characteristically direct explanation.
"I don’t have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken," Bielsa asserted.
"I’m not a model! There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain. If I’m wearing glasses, why am I wearing glasses?
“You look somebody in the eye, why do you do that? There is nothing wrong about wearing glasses or looking into somebody’s eyes or looking down."
Marcelo Bielsa refused to engage with his World Cup photoshoot ❌ pic.twitter.com/IU0zLzjAYV
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 16, 2026
Scotland's Dykes vows to get World Cup tattoo
13:12 , Will Castle
Lyndon Dykes, sporting a bald new look that he says his Scotland team-mates are a fan of, has vowed to add to his already heavily-tattooed body with a World Cup tattoo
“I haven’t got one yet but I’ll definitely get one,” he said.
“I need to get a few more boys involved and I’m sure I’ll get a few.
“We could maybe get a couple of skinheads as well, just get a whole team of skinheads and everyone with a tattoo. That would be brilliant.
“Obviously I’ve got loads of tattoos but I’ve got plenty of space so I’m sure there will be a World Cup tattoo somewhere.”
Asked who was least likely in the squad to shave their head, Dykes replied: “(Scott) McTominay, all day. It’s all about the looks for him now.”
The stage for England vs Croatia
13:04 , Will Castle
England kick their Worst Cup campaign off at Dallas’ AT&T Stadium tonight. Here’s a quick rundown of the venue:
Capacity: 94,000
Matches: Five group, two last 32, one last 16, one semi-final
Info: Info: Features a retractable roof, which will be crucial in the Texas heat. Home to the Dallas Cowboys.
World Cup 2026 kits: Every home and away shirt ranked and rated
12:56 , Will Castle
Lawrence Ostlere has done what he does best and has reviewed every home and away shirt for each of the 48 teams competing at this summer’s World Cup.
From worst to best, from the visually upsetting to the optically arousing, here are our World Cup 2026 kit rankings.
World Cup 2026 kits: Every home and away shirt ranked and rated
Kane relieved to have ended trophy hoodoo
12:48 , Will Castle
“For me personally, to have that weight off my shoulders is important,” Kane said in relation to winning his first trophies as a player.
“Especially this year having the trophies and having the cup final where I scored a hat-trick, my first big moment in a final – I think that is only going to help me as a player.
“Also, I think the perception around me has probably changed in the last few years.
“The fact that I’ve won those trophies means I’m seen a bit differently from the outside or by people around, and maybe even team-mates, I’m not quite sure.”
Striking fear into the opposition
12:40 , Will Castle
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic and Luka Modric have recognised two of England’s primary dangers: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
"They have the best striker in the world, they have Kane and Kane can do a hell of a lot," said Dalic. "We will do a lot, we will do our best not only to defend ourselves but to attack, to go forward.
"There will be set pieces, which will be quite difficult but we are prepared for that. I expect a great game and it will be a great preparation for the next two games in the group."
Probed on Thomas Tuchel’s selection choice between Morgan Rogers and Bellingham, Modric said: “I do not like to meddle in the decisions of Thomas Tuchel. England have great players, they are phenomenal players.
“I have played with Jude for two years and I know what sort of top-notch player he is and a character as well. He is a great threat to us.”
Rabiot joins Vinicius Jr in venting about New York pitch
12:32 , Will Castle
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot raised concerns about the quality of the pitch at MetLife Stadium following their win over Senegal, echoing Brazil forward Vinicius Jr's frustration with the dryness of the surface.
"The pitch... I don't even know if you can call it that. It felt more like an artificial surface — quite hard and quite rigid," Rabiot told reporters.
Dider Deschamps added that he thought the pitch had a “special surface”, presuming there was concrete underneath that caused the bounce of the ball to be “a bit different”.
Win a copy of Miguel Delaney’s States of Play
12:28 , Will Castle
If you’ve ever wondered who really owns and controls football, now’s your chance to find out.
Miguel Delaney, The Independent’s chief football writer, takes readers inside the game in the latest paperback edition of States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football.
To celebrate the World Cup, The Independent is giving away 10 copies of the paperback edition.
This competition is open exclusively to members of the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletter. To enter, simply join HERE before 12pm on 1 July.
Miguel’s weekly newsletter includes:
- An agenda-setting column, diving into the real story behind a big football theme
- Behind-the-scenes updates from reporting trips, including the World Cup
- Access to weekly Q&As, where your questions can be featured
- Snippets of insider knowledge from sources, offering a deeper view beyond the headlines
New Inside Football members can enjoy their first month FREE. After that, membership costs just £3 per month or £30 per year. Join HERE.
Win a copy of Miguel Delaney’s States of Play with his Inside Football newsletter
Sprinkler scaries
12:24 , Will Castle
A sprinkler malfunctioned at Gillette Stadium during half-time of Tuesday’s clash between Norway and Iraq.
A large stream of water spurted for several seconds from a sprinkler on the edge of the area in front of the goal in which Erling Haaland scored twice to give Norway a 2-1 lead.
The rest of the sprinklers appeared to work as expected, but all of them had to be turned off to prevent further damage from the malfunctioning one.
Lionel Messi explains why he was crying during World Cup hat-trick
12:16 , Will Castle
Lionel Messi has revealed why he was crying during his brilliant hat-trick against Algeria that drew him level with Miroslav Klose atop the all-time World Cup goalscoring list.
“Honestly, completely unrelated to the sport, I went through some difficult, complicated days,” said Messi.
“I’m grateful to the entire delegation, to my teammates. They were always there for me, as always. They gave me a lot of strength to get through this, and that’s all.”
Lionel Messi explains why he was crying during World Cup hat-trick
Group L guide
12:08 , Will Castle
At long last, a whistle will be blown to get proceedings in Group L underway, where England reside and Thomas Tuchel will hope to steer them safely into the knockouts, preserving as much energy as possible for the challenges ahead.
An opening game against 2018 runners-up Croatia will set the tone for this group and in a rematch of that memorable World Cup semi-final eight years ago, the Three Lions will be eager for a different result. If they repeat the 6-1 victory over Panama from the group stage of that edition in Russia though, they’ll be more than satisfied.
This Panama team look like a tougher nut than their predecessors but, conversely, Ghana are not the same force they were when only the hand of Luis Suarez denied them a semi-final spot in 2010. There is value in winning Group L, given that the runners-up would likely be on a collision course with tournament favourites Spain in the last 16.
Here’s a full rundown of England’s opponents as well as fixture details for Group L:
World Cup 2026 – Group L guide: England face familiar foes and troubled Ghana
Croatia ones to watch
12:00 , Will Castle
Star player – Luka Modric, AC Milan: The ageless wonder is still going strong into his 40s, now pulling the strings for AC Milan after iconic spells with Real Madrid and Tottenham. He enters his fifth World Cup having won the Golden Ball as Croatia lost in the final in 2018 and also led them to the semi-finals four years ago. Can he finally get an ageing side over the hump?
Breakout talent – Luka Vuskovic, Hamburg: Just 19 years old, the Tottenham centre-back has excelled on loan at Hamburg this season, being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season after a stellar campaign and is attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Physically imposing, aerially dominant and a great reader of the game, Vuskovic is also a threat from set-pieces – scoring six goals for Hamburg and netting his first Croatia goal against Colombia in March.
Croatia preview
11:52 , Will Castle
This is likely one last rodeo for a slew of Croatian warhorses such as Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Dominik Livakovic and, of course, talismanic 40-year-old captain Luke Modric.
Runners-up in 2018 and semi-finalists in 2022 is a remarkable return for this golden generation, so do they have enough in the tank to go deep again or are they slightly over the hill? Common wisdom says potentially the latter but there are young talents such as Josko Gvardiol and Luka Vuskovic dotted among the veteran nous.
They cruised unbeaten through a friendly group in qualification with seven wins and one draw and coach Zlatko Dalic will be quietly confident his team can make some noise in North America.
A defeat in the opening game against England would pile a bit of pressure on however, as while Ghana are probably tougher on paper than in reality, a slightly underrated Panama are potentially trickier in real life than they may first appear. Croatia should still qualify for the knockouts relatively comfortably but how much further can they genuinely go?
Comment: Why England boss Thomas Tuchel is wrong not to call up Trent Alexander-Arnold for World Cup
11:44 , Richard Jolly
Look far enough down the list and eventually you will find him. Below Phil Neal and Viv Anderson, David Bardsley and Earl Barrett, Warren Barton and Danny Mills. Scroll down far enough down the English right-backs in Thomas Tuchel’s pecking order and finally Trent Alexander-Arnold’s name will appear.
Maybe, anyway. Because if two things were entirely unsurprising – that Tino Livramento was ruled out of the World Cup and that Alexander-Arnold was not summoned to replace him – they were extraordinary nonetheless. Alexander-Arnold plays for Real Madrid. He is a triple Champions League finalist, a double Premier League winner, a player who has been in both the FIFPro World XI and the Champions League’s team of the season. He is the defender who has made the most goals in Premier League history. And he now seems, at most, England’s seventh-choice right-back.
Because he appears to be behind – perhaps in this order, perhaps not – Reece James, Livramento, Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah and Trevoh Chalobah, the man summoned to replace the luckless Newcastle defender. Had Chalobah been sidelined, perhaps the ultra-versatile James Garner would have been chosen ahead of Alexander-Arnold, too. Certainly, Tuchel had begun his reign by ranking Kyle Walker ahead of the Liverpudlian; Gareth Southgate did, too, but with the significant difference that Walker was terrific then. Tuchel ignored evidence of the roadrunner’s decline until last year’s defeat to Senegal presented irrefutable proof.
Why England boss Tuchel is wrong not to call up Alexander-Arnold for World Cup
Danny Rohl leaves Rangers to join new club
11:42 , Will Castle
Rangers fans might want to keep their sets tuned on Scotland’s World Cup coverage for this one.
Head coach Danny Rohl has left the club to make the move to Red Bull Salzburg ahead of next season.
Also departing Rangers will be first-team performance manager Sascha Lense and first-team analyst Tristan Steiner.
Rohl led Rangers back into the title race last term after the disastrous start that was Russell Martin’s reign.
Gary Neville sends warning to England defence ahead of World Cup opener
11:36 , Will Castle
Gary Neville has warned England’s defence cannot afford to get off to a "nervous start" in their World Cup opener against Croatia.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville said: "I think it’s so important that that back four starts with a good performance, and I’ve said before about Elliott Anderson and Declan Rice protecting that back four, making sure they don’t expose them. There’s just something about how we start."
He added: "We can’t afford a nervous start for that back four, but they’ve got to get off the grid. They’re a back four who are talented.
“One on one, you put them up against most, I think they could defend one on one against most, but as a unit, that, to me, is where all my eyes are on Wednesday."
Gary Neville sends warning to England defence ahead of World Cup opener
Bernardo Silva joins Real Madrid
11:30 , Will Castle
Some big transfer news away from the World Cup now...
Bernardo Silva has reached agreement with Real Madrid on a two-year contract after leaving Manchester City.
The 31-year-old Portugal international, who announced in April that he would leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, will become a Madrid player when his City contract formally expires at the end of this month.
World Cup 2026 fixtures, results and group tables
11:28 , Will Castle
We are 20 games into the 104 that will be played at this year’s 48-team World Cup, the biggest of its kind.
Here are all the fixtures, results and latest group standings:
World Cup 2026 fixtures, results and group tables
Tuchel promises England to be 'brave' against Croatia
11:20 , Miguel Delaney
Thomas Tuchel has promised that England will be “brave” in this World Cup, and that a big “occasion” like that against Croatia “will bring out the best in us”.
He said: “I think we should play brave and play to the strengths of the players. I feel clearly that the players want it and that it helps us, and that they are successful in club football like this, they compete in the strongest league, most of them, the others who are not in the league compete in the highest level in Europe and Champions League and they play in brave and active teams and that's what we try because it makes them comfortable.
“I think it makes things excited and creates a certain energy, and we need a connection with our fans, who are here, with the fans at home, to create something special.”
Tuchel says World Cup game against Croatia will ‘bring out best’ in ‘brave’ England
Who is Clement Turpin? England v Croatia referee for World Cup who angered Thomas Tuchel
11:12 , Jack Rathborn
Clement Turpin will referee England vs Croatia in the World Cup.
The French official once riled Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel three years ago during his time as Bayern Munich boss.
So much so that Tuchel branded Turpin “Grade E” after receiving two yellow cards in the German club's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City in 2023.
Who is Clement Turpin? England v Croatia referee for World Cup confirmed
World Cup injury tracker: Neymar, Lamine Yamal and Christian Pulisic latest updates
11:04 , Will Castle
Neymar has returned to limited training as he bids to return to fitness in time to feature for Brazil at what could be his last World Cup.
The superstar forward has been out of acting nursing a calf problem sustained while playing for Santos in May, and underwent tests on Monday to determine the progress of his recovery.
He is not expected to play in Brazil’s second Group C outing against Haiti on Friday, with the Selecao desperately needing an injection of attacking spark after putting in an underwhelming display in their opening 1-1 draw with Morocco.
Elsewhere, Lamine Yamal has stepped up his return to full fitness after making his return to action in Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde off the bench - will he start their next match against Saudi Arabia?
Canada, meanwhile, were without captain Alphonso Davies in their 1-1 opening-game draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while US star Christian Pulisic was withdrawn at half-time from their win against Paraguay. England have also suffered their first casualty of the tournament after Tino Livramento was forced to withdraw from the squad.
See below for a full list of key injuries at this year’s World Cup:
World Cup injury tracker: Neymar, Lamine Yamal and Christian Pulisic latest updates
Current World Cup golden boot standings
10:56 , Will Castle
We may only be one match in, but the race for the golden boot is already starting to hot up, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all making early statements. Your move, Harry Kane...
Here are the current standings:
1. Lionel Messi, (Argentina), three goals
= 2 Erling Haaland (Norway), two goals
= 2 Kylian Mbappe (France), two goals
= 2 Folarin Balogun (USA), two goals
= 2 Elijaj Just (New Zealand), two goals
= 2 Kai Havertz (Germany), two goals
=2 Yasin Ayari (Sweden), two goals
Harry Kane begins pursuit of Messi, Mbappe and the World Cup’s Golden Boot in the form of his life
10:48 , Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas
Harry Kane was sitting in a press conference ahead of England’s first World Cup game against Croatia just as Norway were wrapping up their 4-1 win over Iraq. Had he noticed Erling Haaland’s two goals? Had he seen Kylian Mbappe score twice too? Of course he had. The race for the Golden Boot has begun, as Kane is well aware of who he’s up against.
Kane was asked to name best strikers in the tournament, by a Swedish journalist fishing for a compliment after Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both scored against Tunisia.
“If you look at the one playing right now, Erling, and Mbappe scoring a couple for France earlier, they’ve both had fantastic years as goalscorers and strikers, two of the top, top players,” Kane said. “They’ve obviously both started the tournament really well today, so yeah, apart from Sweden, I’ll probably vote with those two as two of the best in the World Cup.”
Harry Kane gets set to chase Messi, Mbappe and the World Cup’s Golden Boot
England vs Croatia: Predict the score!
10:40 , Will Castle
Messi hailed after equalling Klose record
10:32 , Will Castle
“I don’t have the words to describe Messi,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “For 20 years, he’s had us used to seeing things like this and he inspires everyone who watches him play.”
Messi added: “Everything I’m experiencing now is a bonus. I’ve been fortunate enough to achieve all my dreams — or even more than I ever dreamed of achieving — both professionally and personally.”
Speaking on the Argentina great, Algeria captain Aissa Mandi said: “What made the difference is that they have a player who is ruthless, almost every chance he gets ends up in the back of the net.
“He might be the best player of all time. His efficiency is formidable; we knew that. We tried to shut him down as much as possible, but it didn’t work – he was too good for us there.”
England fans embrace US culture during World Cup – by flocking to gun range
10:24 , Will Castle
Football fans in Texas for the World Cup have been embracing American gun culture, flocking to a Dallas shooting range for an experience “we don’t get in England”.
The DFW Gun Range and Academy in Dallas has hosted a “little conga line of multi-cultures”, with various teams’ fans visiting since the World Cup started.
Staff member Carlos Castaneda reported that visitor numbers have “kicked up” notably in the past two days, coinciding with the arrival of Three Lions supporters.
Matthew Connell, 28, from Preston, said that the shooting range was “packed with fellow England fans”.
England fans embrace US culture during World Cup – by flocking to gun range
Martinez on his way out of Portugal?
10:16 , Will Castle
Roberto Martinez says reports that he will leave his role as Portugal head coach after the World Cup are “not news”.
A statement on Tuesday said Martinez and Portugal are “aligned” on being fully focused on the tournament in North America, amid reports the Spaniard will leave his post regardless of what happens at the finals.
“It’s not news,” he said.
“We’ve already talked a lot about this in Portugal. Here it may be different, but in Portugal we’ve already talked a lot about it.
“The focus is on continuing the work done for three-and-a-half years.
“When I arrived in Portugal, the focus was… trying to win everything every day, but the focus was on preparing for the World Cup. We’re already here, 40 games later, after winning the Nations League.
“The important thing is the World Cup. My contract ends after the World Cup, I don’t think that’s news. It’s a fact. It’s a fact, isn’t it… it’s not news.”
Fifa claims over one million fans have already attended World Cup games
10:08 , Will Castle
More than one million fans attended the opening 16 games at the World Cup in North America, according to Fifa.
Concerns over the pricing of tickets in the run-up to the finals appeared to be borne out by swathes of empty seats at the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara last Thursday, and Saturday’s match between Qatar and Switzerland in the Bay Area in California.
However, Fifa says 1,028,429 fans were present at the matches up to and including Monday, with the stadiums 99.34 per cent full, according to its data.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino was pictured on his Instagram with the one millionth fan, Aaron Bren.
England fans take over Dallas
10:00 , Will Castle
How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?
09:52 , Lawrence Ostlere
The wait is almost over. Eighteen months after he was unveiled as England manager, Thomas Tuchel will lead the Three Lions into the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, with the express goal of “putting a second star on the shirt”. For fans, the extreme psychological sport that is watching England in a major tournament begins.
Qualification was perfect – no draws, no defeats, no goals conceded – but some of England’s friendly performances have been uninspiring and even at this late stage, there remain some questions over exactly who makes up England’s best XI as they prepare to face Croatia in Dallas.
Lawrence Ostlere takes you through how England will shape up against Croatia:
How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?
The old school trait turning Kylian Mbappe into Monsieur World Cup
09:45 , Richard Jolly in New York
There is something old-fashioned about a player defined by the World Cup. Kylian Mbappe can seem a face of sleek modernity, but perhaps he is a throwback footballer. The World Cup is his stage; perhaps no footballer for decades can say that to the same extent.
As Mbappe claimed France’s goalscoring record, and advanced past Pele and Just Fontaine’s totals in World Cups to draw level with Gerd Muller, Didier Deschamps talked of the global audience. Mbappe, he said, did not want to pass Olivier Giroud’s tally for Les Bleus in a friendly. He did it instead against Senegal in the World Cup, in the world’s most famous city. He can prosper when the eyes of the footballing planet are on one match, and one alone. And, in an ever more crowded fixture list, that is rarely the case. Mbappe started this tournament with a very different double of high class. “In this match with a global audience, he has a real aura,” noted Deschamps.
His aura, unlike his peers’, comes from such days. Some of the legends of earlier generations were defined more by World Cups. Santos and Napoli fans may disagree but Pele and Diego Maradona were. Paolo Rossi, Mario Kempes and Fontaine too. For audiences outside South America, Garrincha and Jairzinho were always going to be. For those outside England, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst are.
Then there is Mbappe; perhaps headed for a third World Cup final in a competition that is the ultimate, but not the constant in the conversation. For much of the time, it can seem the power dynamic between club and country has shifted decisively away from the international game. The Champions League has felt dominant in the age of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Ballons d’Or don’t always tend to be won by World Cup winners: Messi did in 2023, for the 2022 tournament, but before him Fabio Cannavaro had been the last to do that particular double.
The old school trait turning Kylian Mbappe into Monsieur World Cup
The route to the final England could take at World Cup 2026
09:35 , Will Castle
Group fixtures
17 June: England vs Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
23 June: England vs Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
27 June: England vs Panama | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Round of 32
1 July: England v third-place finisher in Group E/H/I/J/K | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Round of 16
5 July: England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Quarter-final
11 July: England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Semi-final
15 July: England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Final:
19 July: England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Why did Tuchel pick Chalobah to replace Livramento?
09:28 , Will Castle
Thomas Tuchel explained his decision to call up Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah, a centre-back, to England’s 2026 World Cup squad following an injury to full-back Tino Livramento.
“Tino has an injury of four or five weeks which is unfortunately too long to reintegrate him into the squad,” Tuchel said.
“We called Trevoh Chalobah because it frees up Jarrell Quansah to play full-back on both sides, and Djed Spence can play full-back on both sides, so it gives us full coverage in defence.”
How the World Cup’s great survivor Luka Modric and Croatia could torment England again
09:15 , Richard Jolly
Luka Modric tends to swap shirts with an opponent after every international. It means he must need a very large wardrobe or plenty of frames. He will soon have a double century of shirts. There was, Modric said in his autobiography, only one Croatia game where he was determined not to trade the checkered kit with a member of the opposition team: against France, in 2018.
Croatia lost, but even getting there was an extraordinary achievement. Their population remains below four million, less than 0.05 of the world’s. But Modric took them to the 2018 World Cup final. He won the World Cup’s Golden Ball and then the Ballon d’Or, to follow his third consecutive Champions League with Real Madrid.
In an era of diminutive passers, Modric gained personal accolades that eluded even the Spanish technicians who won a World Cup. Modric got so close to emulating them, in part because of a rivalry that will be renewed now. Croatia face England in Dallas. Their only previous World Cup game was in Moscow, eight years ago, and in the semi-final.
How the World Cup’s great survivor Modric and Croatia could torment England again
Lionel Messi creates more history with Argentina after fabulous hat-trick reveals World Cup truth
09:04 , Jack Rathborn
Lionel Messi and this love story with the World Cup endures. The game’s most beloved player, Argentina’s most famous son, provided another golden performance as his first-ever World Cup hat-trick propelled Argentina towards a fourth star.
It can be easy to forget the pain and sorrow experienced on this brilliant Argentine’s gripping journey, before that outpouring of jubilation and the destiny of Doha in 2022. But beyond Kylian Mbappe’s super-charged France and the mesmerising Lamine Yamal’s Spain, Argentina’s dream of back-to-back titles burnt bright in the night sky of Kansas City in a 3-0 victory over an Algeria side blinded by this iconic No 10’s light.
More history was made at a Fifa World Cup with this maiden treble in what is Messi’s sixth tournament. This was also a 61st hat-trick in a career that refuses to fizzle out. An Argentine side, that threatened to grow stale in the intervening years since that glorious penalty shoot-out victory over France, now has three points to start Group J thanks to their little magician.
Lionel Messi creates history with Argentina as hat-trick reveals World Cup truth
What is the early England vs Croatia team news
08:56 , Will Castle
Bukayo Saka is touch and go to prove his fitness to start, with Noni Madueke ready to deputise on the right. Trevoh Chalobah will not be involved after replacing the injured Tino Livramento but will be available for their next outing. All other squad members are fit - will Tuchel pick Bellingham or Morgan Rodgers in the No 10 and who out of Guehi, Stones and Konsa starts at centre back?
As it stands, Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has a full bill of health, with all 26 players available for their opening game, including Manchester City duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, who have endured injury-impacted seasons.
How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in critical World Cup opener
08:48 , Miguel Delaney in Dallas
In the final hours before England’s opening World Cup match, Thomas Tuchel hasn’t felt the need for any extra rousing speech about what the competition is. The manager senses the right mood among the squad as it is.
“They know,” Tuchel says. “We all know, and I think you have to grow into a tournament. At the moment, I don’t feel that any emotional fuel is needed to make everyone clear what is happening. But at the moment I see it even as an advantage that we’re focused on what we can actually influence. We don’t put it in the bigger picture - just put it where it is. We know,” he repeated.
Some of the players certainly know the challenge of Croatia. They’re all well aware of Luka Modric’s quality, of course, especially since he’s been central to three of four meetings between the sides since 2018.
How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in crucial World Cup opener
Everything you missed overnight: Austria deny Jordan debut point
08:40 , Will Castle
An own goal and a late Marko Arnautovic penalty denied Jordan a dream debut point as they fell short to Austria in their World Cup opener.
Romano Schmidt had given Austria the lead in the first half but that was cancelled out by Ali Olwan, who expertly bent home to score Jordan’s first ever goal at a World Cup finals.
But there was heartbreak to come for the debutants, with Yazan Al Arab putting into his own net with 14 minutes to play to give Austria a lifeline, before Arnautovic converted from the spot with the last kick of the game to seal the win.
Everything you missed overnight: Haaland scores double on near-perfect World Cup debut
08:32 , Will Castle
Having seen Kylian Mbappe run riot against Senegal, this generation’s other star striker clearly thought ‘anything you can do, I can do better’. Making his World Cup debut, Erling Haaland scored twice in the first half as Norway beat a spirited Iraqi side 4-1 to end the first matchday top of Group I.
The 25-year-old is already Norway’s record goalscorer, now with 57 goals in 51 caps, and it looks like as well as duelling for top spot in Group I, he and Mbappe will be fighting for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
He only had 11 touches in the first half - the fewest of any player on the pitch - but two of them were goals. The first was a tap-in from a Moller Wolfe cutback, with the second also coming at close range as the Manchester City striker closed down Iraq keeper Jalal Hassan, who dawdled on the ball after a poor backpass by Zaid Tahseen and paid the price.
He missed a second-half chance for a hat-trick, too, and was narrowly denied an assist as he headed the ball across goal for Kristian Thorstvedt to bundle home Norway’s fourth on the night - but the strike was marked down as an Aymen Hussein home goal.
Everything you missed overnight: Partey loses Canada visa appeal
08:24 , Will Castle
Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s match against Panama after a Canadian court on Tuesday dismissed his appeal against being denied entry.
The 33-year-old had been refused a visa by the Canadian government last week, prompting his legal team to launch a last-minute challenge at the Federal Court in Ottawa.
The Black Stars play Panama in their Group L match in Toronto on Wednesday. In dismissing the appeal, judge Roger Lafreniere wrote that Partey sought "extraordinary, mandatory interlocutory relief" that would have required Canada to set aside a "lawfully rendered inadmissibility finding and facilitate his entry for a specific event."
Former Arsenal midfielder Partey denies seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year.
Everything you missed overnight: Magic Messi equals Klose’s record
08:16 , Will Castle
Algeria were warned. A dainty pass slipped into the right side of the penalty area by Lautaro Martinez played Lionel Messi in on goal and he routinely found the back of the net by beating Luca Zidane on his near side. The crowd inside the Kansas City Stadium erupted in cheers only for the celebrations to get cut short as the football legend was ruled offside.
It was a chance taken just five minutes into Argentina’s World Cup opener and looked as though the 38-year-old had picked up exactly where he left off when winning the tournament four years ago. But it was not to be and Messi had to wait a further 12 minutes before making his mark on the 2026 edition of the World Cup.
Supplied by his close teammate Rodrigo de Paul, the little master spun towards goal before drawing a stunning effort from left-to-right, through the hands of Zidane and into the top, right corner with the pinpoint accuracy of his heydays. It is the type of goal that reminds the World Cup hopefuls that Messi may be heading into the twilight of his career but he retains all the prowess and skill of his younger self and, perhaps most importantly, the desire to achieve wonders on the biggest stage of all.
A second goal of the game caame from a fortuitous tap-in before a slick move late in the second half set him up for a driving finish that takes him to 16 goals across his six World Cup tournaments. That puts him level with record holder Miroslav Klose who he will surely surpass before this tournament is done.
Everything you missed overnight: Injured Livramento replaced by Chalobah
08:08 , Will Castle
Trevoh Chalobah has been called up to replace the injured Tino Livramento in England’s World Cup squad.
Livramento’s calf injury is an early blow for Thomas Tuchel’s preparations for the tournament, coming just one day before the Three Lions’ opener against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday.
Tuchel was able to replace Newcastle full-back Livramento in the squad with a deadline of 9pm BST on Tuesday – 24 hours before England’s first game of the tournament – and Chelsea defender Chalobah was on his way to the United States on Tuesday. Chalobah will not be involved against Croatia, but will be available for subsequent group matches against Ghana and Panama.
Everything you missed overnight: Mbappe double follows first major VAR controversy
08:00 , Will Castle
While Kylian Mbappe became France’s all-time record goalscorer with his double in New Jersey, taking France to victory against Senegal, a decision not to award him a penalty when the match remained scoreless was questioned by many - including several referees themselves, according to the BBC’s resident official Darren Cann.
Iranian-Australian referee Alireza Faghani initially gave a corner – and then changed his decision to a goal-kick after watching replays. Mbappe had dribbled into the box where Senegal’s Sadio Mane slid in to make a tackle. As Mane reached Mbappe, the France captain touched the ball away from his opponent and then collapsed in a heap under Mane’s challenge.
Referee Faghani was sent to review the decision on his pitchside monitor by his VAR, and as he stepped back on to the pitch, French players and coaching staff began to celebrate. But instead of awarding a penalty, Faghani announced: “The attacker initiated the contact.”
When is England v Croatia?
07:52 , Will Castle
England face Croatia at 9pm BST on Wednesday 17 June (3pm CT) at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the match free-to-air on ITV 1, ITV X, STV and STV Player with coverage starting at 8pm BST. It can also be live streamed on ITVX.
Good morning!
07:46 , Will Castle
Hello there and welcome to The Independent’s live blog for all things World Cup - it’s England opener day!
Settle in and start getting your hopes up as we bring you all the latest in the build-up to the Croatia clash in Dallas.
