England open the 2026 World Cup against Croatia, with betting guru Lewis Jones backing a one‑goal victory. Thomas Tuchel’s arrival brings a record of knockout success, and the Three Lions arrive after an unbeaten qualifying run, eight wins, zero goals conceded. Sky Bet list England at 4/6, Croatia at 4/1, and a draw at 27/10. The match starts at 2 pm local time, drawing global attention.

Historical matchups favour tight margins; the 2018 semi‑final and Euro 2020 clash were decided by a single goal. England’s last 18 tournament openers have rarely swung by more than one goal, reflecting a cautious start. Jones predicts a 2‑1 win at 12/5, aligning with Thomas Tuchel’s pragmatic approach that values three points over flair. Fans expect a disciplined display as both sides seek early momentum.

A key betting angle centres on Harry Kane’s ability to draw fouls from Croatia’s aggressive centre‑back Luka Vuskovic. Kane averages 1.9 fouls won per 90 minutes in major tournaments, while Vuskovic has already committed nine fouls in four starts. Jones offers a combined 3/1 bet on Vuskovic committing two or more fouls and Kane winning at least two.