England and Croatia commenced their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a match on Wednesday evening. England enters the competition following a finalist appearance at the recent European Championship, while Croatia secured third place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Group L fixture is anticipated to be a closely contested encounter, kicking off at 10:00 PM local time. Croatian player Josip Sutalo, currently with Ajax, was immediately tested early in the game. The match marks the beginning of the qualifying process for both nations hoping to secure a spot in the expanded 48-team World Cup. This opening game sets the tone for a competitive qualifying group.