It was billed as one of the marquee Group L matchups of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and England vs. Croatia delivered in spectacular fashion Tuesday afternoon at Dallas Stadium. In a game that swung wildly in both directions, England ultimately pulled away for a 4-2 victory – but not before Croatia made things uncomfortable.
The 92-degree Texas sun beat down on the crowd outside the stadium, but inside, the Texas air conditioning kept fans cool for what turned out to be one of the most dramatic opening-round matches of the tournament.
Kane’s Comeback
England drew first blood, but not before a moment of early tension. Captain Harry Kane stepped up to convert a penalty kick in the 10th minute – on his second attempt. His initial effort was blocked, but a VAR review ordered a retake, and Kane made no mistake the second time around. Despite outnumbering the Croatian supporters, the visiting fans made their presence felt throughout the early going.
Croatia was not rattled for long. At the 35-minute mark, Como playmaker Martin Baturina silenced the England faithful with a stunning strike from outside the box to level the match at 1-1. It was the kind of goal that changes the tone of a game.
Kane answered. The England captain rose to meet a delivery in the 41st minute and powered home a header to restore the lead at 2-1. It looked like England would go into the break in control.
They would not.
FC Dallas’ Petar Musa Breaks England’s Lead
In a moment that sent the Croatian contingent into a frenzy, FC Dallas’s own Petar Musa – playing just about 40 miles from his club home at Toyota Stadium – scored in the dying seconds of first-half stoppage time to pull Croatia level at 2-2. It was a gut-punch for England and a reminder of exactly why Zlatko Dalić had made the surprise decision to start Musa over veteran Andrej Kramarić. His local connection to North Texas made the moment all the more electric.
The halftime whistle blew moments later—four goals, maximum drama, and 45 more minutes to play.
England Dominates Second Half
If Croatia hoped the momentum from Musa’s equalizer would carry into the second half, Jude Bellingham had other ideas. Straight out of the tunnel, Bellingham struck almost immediately after the restart to put England back in front at 3-2 in the 47th minute.
From that point on, England took complete control. The stat line told the story: by the 60th minute, England had registered 18 attempts on goal to Croatia’s four, with eight on target compared to Croatia’s two. Manager Thomas Tuchel’s side was suffocating the Croatians.
Croatia’s legendary captain Luka Modrić – who had overcome a fractured cheekbone to take the field – was substituted off at the 57th minute, a symbolic moment that underscored the uphill battle facing the Chequered Ones. The 40-year-old had given everything, but England’s relentless press had taken its toll.
Bellingham himself was withdrawn at the 79th minute to a warm ovation from the Dallas crowd, a job well done.
Rashford Puts It to Bed
Marcus Rashford came off the bench and applied the finishing touch in the 85th minute, slotting home to make it 4-2 and seal a commanding victory for England.
Kane’s brace – penalty and header – along with Bellingham’s crucial early second-half goal and Rashford’s late insurance were the defining contributions. England looked every bit like a World Cup contender.
Croatia, to their credit, never stopped competing. Musa’s stoppage-time equalizer will live long in the memory of the Croatian fans who traveled to Dallas, and Baturina’s outside-the-box thunderbolt was a moment of genuine quality.
But England was too relentless.
Final Score: England 4, Croatia 2
Group L continues on June 23 as England face Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
