England began their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign Wednesday evening with a match against Croatia. This Group L contest pits two recent major tournament contenders against each other: England, finalists at the last European Championship, and Croatia, who finished third at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Jude Bellingham scored, putting England in the lead during a promisingly competitive match. The game, which began at 10:00 PM local time, is expected to be a closely fought encounter. Both teams are aiming to secure an early advantage in the qualifying group. The match signifies the start of the road to the 2026 World Cup for both nations.