England crowd cheers following a goal by midfielder Jude Bellingham (10) during the second half of FIFA World Cup Group L match against Croatia, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 , at Dallas Stadium, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
ARLINGTON — England made a bold opening statement Wednesday with its 4-2 win over Croatia in one of the World Cup’s most anticipated matches, right here at JerryWorld, which FIFA insists on calling “Dallas Stadium,” like that’s a thing.
Speaking of which: FIFA has slapped “Dallas” on everything out here in Tarrant County. Even the concession options.
England’s Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates a goal with Harry Kane (9) and Noni Madueke (20) during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Fans wait in line to get into Dallas Stadium for a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia fans Tracy Rendic, of Atlanta, kisses her husband Nick Lewis outside Dallas Stadium before a World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
The England team bus arrives at Dallas Stadium before a World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
England players warm up ahead of FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Jacob Sexton of Dallas sells cutouts of Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left) and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo before a World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
England and Croatia players take the pitch encircling a lay-flat mural of the world before a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
English fans cheer as their national anthem plays before a World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
As seen with a fisheye lens, the flags of England (left) and Croatia are spread across the pitch as the players encircle the center emblem for the national anthems before a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia and England players greet each other ahead of an FIFA World Cup Group L match, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Soccer fans watch a World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia at Texas Live!, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Harry Kane (9) scores on a penalty kick against Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) during the first half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Harry Kane (9) shoots and scores a penally kick against Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
A plenalty kick by England’s Harry Kane gets past Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic during the first half of FIFA World Cup Group L match, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England fans celebrate at Texas Live! after England forward Harry Kane scored a goal against Croatia during a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Harry Kane (9) celebrates after scoring the first goal from a penalty during the first half of FIFA World Cup Group L match against Croatia, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England midfielder Jude Bellingham (10) runs past Croatia midfielder Mario Pašalic (15) during the first half of FIFA World Cup Group L match, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina (16) shoots the ball past England defenders for a goal during the first half of FIFA World Cup Group L match, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina scores a goal against England during the first half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia forward Ivan Perišic (14) leaps over teammate Martin Baturina (16) who scored a first half goal in a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Croatian fans react after a goal during the first half of a World Cup Group L soccer match against England on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Harry Kane (9) heads the ball past Croatia forward Petar Musa (26) for his second goal during the first half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Harry Kane (9) heads the ball for a goal during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Harry Kane (9) celebrates his second goal during the first half of a World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
England fans celebrate a goal during a watch party for the FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia at The Londoner Pub in Dallas Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
England midfielder Elliot Anderson (8) jumps as he tries to control the ball ahead of Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina (16) during the first half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia forward Petar Musa (26) of FC Dallas shoots and scores on England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (1) during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026. England defender Reece James (24) was covering on the play.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia forward Petar Musa (26) scores a goal past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (1) during the first half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia forward Petar Musa (26) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match against England, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia forward Petar Musa (right) of FC Dallas reacts after scoring a first half goal in a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia forward Petar Musa (26) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match against England, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England midfielder Jude Bellingham (10) scores past Croatia midfielder Mario Pašalic (15) during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
England midfielder Jude Bellingham pumps his fist to the cheers of English fans after his goal during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
England defender Ezri Konsa (2) and defender John Stones (5) celebrates following their side’s third goal during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group L match against Croatia, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) blocks a header by England defender Nico O’Reilly (3) during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
An England fan cheers their side during a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England defender Nico O’Reilly (3) heads the ball off a corner kick during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
English fans dressed as three lions cheer England in a World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
England midfielder Jude Bellingham (10) tackles Croatia forward Petar Musa (26) during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Former Dallas Cowboys player Emmitt Smith smiles as he greets fans during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) clears the ball as England forward Harry Kane (9) attempts to score during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026. Croatia defender Josip Stanišic (2) provided the block on the play.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Electronic board displaying the attendance of a FIFA World Cup Group L match between England and Croatia, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Marcus Rashford (11) scores past Croatia defender Josip Stanišic (2) during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) dives and forward Ivan Perišic (14) slides in vein as England forward Marcus Rashford’s goal slices between them in the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
England forward Marcus Rashford (11) is mobbed by teammates after scoring a second half goal against Croatia in a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
England defender Nico O’Reilly (3) clears the ball with a header against Croatia defender Josip Šutalo (6) during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group L match, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England fans reach for a soccer ball that was kicked high over the goal during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match against Croatia at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
England midfielder Elliot Anderson raises his arms as time expires on their 4-2 win over Croatia in a FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, June 17, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Croatia forward Ivan Perišic (14) hugs England forward Harry Kane (9) following a FIFA World Cup Group L match, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
England players applaud their the fans following their side’s win against Croatia in a FIFA World Cup Group L match,Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
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Frito pie is also now “Texas pie.”
If FIFA had its way, it’d peel “Fletcher’s” off the corny dogs at the State Fair.
If I can’t in good conscience vouch for the menu, the soccer was first-rate entertainment. England and Croatia picked up where Japan and The Netherlands left off Sunday, with a couple of noticeable differences.
First, the Croats and Three Lions scored more goals than their predecessors could have managed in a week. British journalists were agog at the onslaught. English fans have begged for this kind of attack for years, decades, even.
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“We encouraged them to go for it,” Thomas Tuchel said of his halftime speech to his players. “To be more brave. To be ourselves.
“Overall, I think we deserved to win.”
Croatia, a third-place finisher in 2022 after a runner-up position in ’18, couldn’t argue with that sentiment. Just the same, the Croats had their moments. The prettiest was a crab-walking shot between the legs of an English defender by FC Dallas’ own Petar Musa off a nifty header from a teammate. Tied it up just seconds before the half.
The stalemate wouldn’t last long. England simply had too much firepower for the Croats, who, for the most part, couldn’t keep the ball out of their end. Harry Kane, a star rising to the moment just as Messi and Mbappe did for their countries this week, fell just short of a hat trick.
The biggest difference between the opener here and Wednesday’s match, however, was the decibel level generated by the 70,389 on hand. For a game with so many offensive fireworks, not to mention a history between the two nations that included Croatia’s elimination of England in the 2018 World Cup, it was the kind of crowd you might find across the street under the sliding roof.
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A few impromptu rounds of “God Save the King” was pretty much the extent of it, whereas you couldn’t shut up Sunday’s crowd.
Japan, which will be back here next week for Sweden, has for some reason latched on to Men Without Hats’ 1987 ditty, “Pop Goes the World,” which their fans recite ad nauseam. They made up for it by hanging around afterward to clean up after themselves.
The beauty of the world coming to your doorstep is the culture they pack with them. They do their best to understand ours, too. Like the TV broadcasters during Sunday’s match at JerryWorld after a long lead pass.
Play-by-play man: “That might be the best pass they’ve seen in this stadium since Dak Prescott threw a 74-yarder to CeeDee Lamb against the Washington Commanders in Week 7.”
Analyst: “Yeah, that was proper.”
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Play-by-play: “That was some ball, wasn’t it?”
Analyst: “That was proper.”
Play-by-play: “Absolutely split them in two.”
Analyst: “Tom Brady would have been happy with that.”
Not sure if the GOAT was here Wednesday, but Dirk Nowitzki, Emmitt Smith and Dez Bryant were. The biggest star, though, was Kane, who scored on a penalty kick and a header off a cross a day after Messi posted his first hat trick in a World Cup match.
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Let’s hope Leo has something left for Austria when Argentina gets here Monday.
The 48-nation tournament, largest in World Cup history, has already provided a little bit of something for everyone. Besides Messi, Kane and Mbappe proving stars still shine, we’ve identified not just one but two Cinderellas! Cabo Verde, which fought to a scoreless draw with Spain on Monday, and Congo DR, which held Portugal and Ronaldo to a 1-1 draw earlier Wednesday.
The only no-go so far: The newly instituted “hydration break” midway through both halves. Fans dislike the timeouts for two reasons. The first is that, with a running clock, a regulation game comes in at two hours flat. Soccer fans, who booed or whistled during Wednesday’s breaks, don’t like anything that interrupts the flow.
Nothing seemed to rattle England, which is now 7-3-2 against Croatia on a national stage. Still, Tuchel noted first-half jitters, no doubt because there’s pressure to bear. England hasn’t won a World Cup since 1966, a drought that makes even Jerry Jones’ look puny in comparison.
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The good news is, the people renting out Jerry’s palace are off to a bang-up start. If you’re coming out Monday, my advice is to leave early. Like, now. Parking prices are going up by the day. Escalated 20% since Sunday at the lot SportsDay reporters use, and that’s still a bargain compared with the $300 gouging going on near the stadium. I’d tell you where ours is, but then you might get my spot, and we can’t have that, can we?
Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN