England vs Croatia: All-time Head-to-head records ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026

The Three Lions hold the superior overall record, but Croatia’s most famous victory came on football’s biggest stage.

England and Croatia are set to renew their rivalry when they meet in Group L of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 17th, 2026. With Ghana and Panama also part of the group, both nations will be eager to begin their World Cup campaign with a positive result and gain an early advantage in the race for qualification.

England carries the expectations that accompany one of football’s traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions lifted the World Cup in 1966 and have consistently entered major tournaments among the favourites, although a second World Cup title has continued to elude them.

Croatia, meanwhile, have established themselves as one of international football’s most determined and competitive nations despite their relatively short history as an independent country. The Vatreni finished runners-up at the 2018 FIFA World Cup before securing a third-place finish in Qatar four years later, underlining their ability to perform on the biggest stage.

Whenever these two sides meet, memories inevitably return to some unforgettable encounters over the past two decades. While England hold the advantage in the overall head-to-head record, Croatia have often produced their finest performances against the Three Lions when the stakes have been at their highest.

England vs Croatia: Head-to-head summary

The rivalry between England and Croatia began with a goalless international friendly in 1996. Since then, the two nations have met regularly across European Championship qualifiers, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, UEFA Nations League fixtures and major tournaments. One of Croatia’s earliest memorable victories came during the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

A 2-0 win in Zagreb was followed by a dramatic 3-2 triumph at Wembley Stadium in November 2007, a result that denied England qualification for the tournament and remains one of the most painful defeats in modern English football history.

England responded emphatically during qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Fabio Capello’s side secured a dominant 4-1 victory in Zagreb before recording a commanding 5-1 win at Wembley a year later.

Those victories remain England’s biggest wins over Croatia and helped the Three Lions comfortably secure qualification for South Africa. However, no meeting between the two nations is remembered more vividly than their clash in the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

England took the lead through Kieran Trippier’s stunning free-kick and appeared on course for a first World Cup final since 1966. Croatia had other ideas. Ivan Perišić levelled the scores in the second half before Mario Mandžukić struck in extra time to seal a famous 2-1 victory and send Croatia into their first-ever World Cup final.

The most recent competitive meeting came at UEFA Euro 2020, where England secured a 1-0 victory at Wembley courtesy of Raheem Sterling’s decisive goal. The match that defined the rivalry

Although England have enjoyed greater success across the overall head-to-head record, Croatia’s victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final remains the defining chapter of this rivalry. The match represented one of the greatest achievements in Croatian football history.

After overcoming host Russia in the quarter-finals, Zlatko Dalić’s side displayed remarkable determination to recover from an early setback and eliminate one of the tournament favourites. For England, it remains a painful memory of a missed opportunity. Thomas Tuchel’s young side had captured the imagination of supporters throughout the tournament but ultimately fell one step short of reaching the final. Eight years later, that result continues to shape perceptions whenever the two nations meet.

• Matches played: 11
• England wins: 6
• Croatia wins: 3
• Draws: 2
• Goals scored by England: 23
• Goals scored by Croatia: 13

Also Read: Preview: England vs Croatia prediction, odds, where to watch, time | FIFA World Cup 2026

England vs Croatia : All previous meetings

• England 0-0 Croatia (International Friendly, 1996)
• England 3-1 Croatia (International Friendly, 2003)
• Croatia 2-4 England (UEFA Euro 2004)
• Croatia 2-0 England (UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifiers)
• England 2-3 Croatia (UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifiers)
• Croatia 1-4 England (2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
• England 5-1 Croatia (2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
• Croatia 0-0 England (UEFA Nations League, 2018)
• England 2-1 Croatia (UEFA Nations League, 2018)
• Croatia 2-1 England (FIFA World Cup 2018 Semi-final)
• England 1-0 Croatia (UEFA Euro 2020)

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