Each co-host has now played their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Mexico kicked things off with a win over South Africa, before Canada battled to a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The US have been the most impressive so far, however, thumping Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
As excitement grows with every game, England will have to be patient and wait until 17 June before their tournament finally begins. They are faced with a tricky fixture as well, as they take on Croatia, the same nation that sent them home at the semi-final stage in Russia 2018.
Thomas Tuchel had a big enough task on his hands when naming the 26-man squad for the World Cup – notably leaving the likes of Harry Maguire, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer at home – but his job becomes more complicated now, as he must select his first starting XI for the summer tournament.
A report from BBC Sport appears to have already 'leaked' a few key decisions made by the German ahead of the Croatia match.
Tuchel Makes Big Call on Starting Bellingham vs Croatia
One of the big talking points for the Three Lions going into the tournament has revolved around the attack. While captain Harry Kane will obviously start, Tuchel has a big call to make in terms of the man who will play in the ten role behind the striker.
In five international games across 2025 and 2026, Aston Villa ace Morgan Rogers has been trusted in that position. When he starts, though, it means Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has to controversially settle for a spot on the bench.
In the two World Cup warm-ups, Rogers was given the nod against New Zealand, before Bellingham was handed the start against Costa Rica. It appears as though Tuchel has now made a final call on who will start, with the BBC claiming that the team which started that latter match will be the team to start against Croatia.
Journalist Sami Mokbel wrote: "Well, there is certainly a sense within the camp that the team that started in Orlando, barring maybe one or two exceptions, will be the side that begins the tournament.
"Crucially, that would mean Jude Bellingham is set to win the race ahead of Morgan Rogers to play in the coveted No 10 role."
Tuchel Decides on His World Cup Centre-Back Pairing
With BBC 'sources' indicating that the team that started in the 3-0 win over Costa Rica will be close to the team that Tuchel picks against Croatia on Wednesday, that also means Tuchel has already made a big call regarding his centre-back partnership to start the tournament.
John Stones lined up alongside Maguire for many years but Marc Guehi took the Manchester United man's place at Euro 2024. However, it looks as though Ezri Konsa will now start at the 2026 World Cup.
Indeed, the Aston Villa man lined up alongside Stones against Costa Rica, which suggests Tuchel has decided this will be his defensive pairing for the opening match. This may surprise some, especially as Guehi spent the last six months playing at Manchester City with Stones. The BBC explain, however:
"But there is an emerging feeling that Tuchel prefers more physicality in his central defensive pairing – with Stones and Konsa bigger than Guehi."
The report also mentions that a 'fully fit Bukayo Saka would almost certainly' start ahead of Noni Madueke, but that just depends on the player's fitness. He only came off the bench against Costa Rica, and that could happen again against Croatia, although it's felt that Saka could start even if he isn't fit enough to finish the match.
