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England’s 2026 World Cup campaigns rarely begin quietly, and their opening match against Croatia looks unlikely to be any different.

The Three Lions head into the tournament among the favourites, but England fans have heard that before.

Every World Cup starts with excitement, optimism and talk of bringing football home. What happens next is usually far less predictable.

Croatia know a thing or two about spoiling England’s plans. They have frustrated and upset the Three Lions on some of football’s biggest stages, and they will relish the chance to do it again.

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England vs Croatia preview, prediciton, team news and how to watch England begin their 2026 World Cup against Croatia who beat them in semi-finals in 2018. The two square off on Wednesday, June 17 in Dallas.

Portugal begin their 2026 World Cup campaign with a meeting against DR Congo, and for Cristiano Ronaldo, the stakes could hardly be higher.

At 41, the Portugal captain is preparing for what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance.

He has won almost everything the game has to offer, but the one trophy missing from his collection is the biggest one of all.

If Ronaldo is ever going to lift the World Cup, this feels like his last shot at making it happen.

Portugal arrive in Group K as clear favourites and will be expected to make a winning start against a DR Congo side playing at the World Cup for the first time in more than 50 years.

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Portugal vs DR Congo preview, prediction, team news and how to watch Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal start their 2026 World Cup campaign as they take on DR Congo in Group K on Wednesday, June 17.

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Argentina begin their 2026 World Cup campaign with a Group J clash against Algeria as the defending champions look to make another strong start on football’s biggest stage.

After lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022, Argentina arrive at the tournament carrying the expectations that come with being world champions, but they will know there are no easy games at a World Cup.

There is also added significance around this year’s tournament, with Lionel Messi set to play in what is expected to be his final World Cup.

Read our full preview here 👇🏼
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Argentina vs Algeria preview, prediction, team news and how to watch Argentina begin the defence of their title as world champions as they face Algeria in a Group J clash in Kansas City on Wednesday, July 17.

Drawn alongside France and Senegal in Group I, Norway can hardly afford a slow start if they want to keep their 2026 World Cup knockout qualification hopes alive.

That is why this opening clash with Iraq already feels like a pivotal moment in their World Cup campaign.

Most predictions are leaning towards Norway winning this one with ease, and it is easy to understand why.

They arrive with players who regularly perform at the highest level and carry the expectation of reaching the knockout rounds to go with that.

However, World Cups have a habit of punishing teams that look too far ahead, especially in their first game.

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Iraq vs Norway preview, prediction, team news and how to watch Norway kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign as they face Iraq in a Group I clash in Boston on Tuesday, June 16.

France begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against a Senegal side that will believe they have a genuine chance of causing problems in Group I.

There’s no doubt about who the favourites are. France possess one of the strongest squads at the tournament, and anything less than three points here would be viewed as a disappointing result.

The expectation is clear – start fast, take control of the group, and build momentum for the challenges ahead.

Senegal will see things differently.

While they may not have the same depth or star power as France, they have enough quality to make this a competitive contest.

They are organised, physically strong, and more than capable of making life difficult for teams that expect an easy afternoon.

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France vs Senegal preview, prediction, team news and how to watch France kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign as they face Senegal in a Group I clash in New York on Tuesday, June 16.

🚨 Predicted England XI 🚨

Most of this team picks itself.

The real debate is...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Stones or Guehi?
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bellingham or Rogers?

We've made our call for England's opener against Croatia, but we have a feeling plenty of you won't agree. 😅

Who should be dropped and who should start? 👇🏼

🇦🇷 Messi and the reigning World Champions are back! 🏆

Argentina begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria 🇩🇿

Will Messi inspire another title run, or can Algeria spring a surprise? 👀

Score prediction? Drop it below ⬇️🔥

Iran begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against New Zealand, knowing a winning start could prove crucial in Group G.

The Iranians are favourites on paper thanks to their experience and quality throughout the squad, but opening matches are rarely straightforward.

A positive result would give them early control of the group and plenty of confidence moving forward.

New Zealand will have other ideas. The All Whites have shown they can compete on the international stage and will see this as a chance to make a statement.

If they can stay organised and frustrate Iran, they may fancy their chances of causing an upset.

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Iran vs New Zealand preview, prediction, team news and how to watch Iran kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign as they face New Zealand in a Group G clash in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 16.

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay meet in what feels like one of the more intriguing fixtures of the opening round of the 2026 World Cup, with both sides having plenty to prove from the start.

On paper, Uruguay are the stronger team. They arrive at the 2026 World Cup with a greater pedigree, more experience on the biggest stage, and a squad packed with quality across the pitch.

That said, this may not be as straightforward as many expect.

Saudi Arabia have earned a reputation for causing problems when the pressure is on.

Their famous victory over Argentina in 2022 remains one of the greatest World Cup upsets, and it showed exactly what they can do when opponents underestimate them.

Uruguay will know they cannot afford to make that mistake.

Read our full preview here 👇🏼
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Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay preview, prediction, team news and how to watch Uruguay kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign as they face Saudi Arabia in a Group H clash in Miami on Monday, June 15.