England names starting XI for World Cup opener against Croatia

England have revealed their hand for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, naming an XI that leans heavily on familiar faces while slotting in a couple of names that would have raised eyebrows even 18 months ago.

The lineup for the Croatia clash features a 4-2-3-1 shape built around a spine of Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Harry Kane.

The lineup, broken down

Here’s the full starting XI: Pickford in goal. A back four of Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, and O’Reilly. A double pivot of Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice. Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford across the attacking midfield trident. Harry Kane alone up top.

The attacking trident and Kane

Saka on the right, Bellingham centrally, Rashford on the left. Kane through the middle.

Kane leads the line as captain. He is England’s all-time leading scorer.

What this means for the tournament ahead

The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents England’s latest attempt to end a trophy drought that has defined generations of supporters. The expanded 48-team format means more games, more rotation, and more opportunities for squad depth to matter.

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