The opening match of Group L in the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup will test whether England can prove its superiority or if Croatia can once again showcase its ability to defy the odds.
On June 18 at 5 AM KST, England and Croatia will compete in their first group stage match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. They are joined in Group L by Ghana and Panama.
Based on pre-match statistics, England appears to have the upper hand. According to the transfer market analysis site Transfermarkt, the value of the England national team is €1.36 billion (approximately ₩23.8 trillion). In contrast, Croatia's squad is valued at €387.3 million (about ₩677.5 billion), making England's valuation roughly 3.5 times that of Croatia.
England also leads in FIFA rankings, sitting at fourth place while Croatia ranks eleventh, reinforcing England's advantage in both squad value and ranking.
The highest-valued player on the England team is Jude Bellingham, with a market value of €130 million (approximately ₩227.4 billion). Declan Rice follows at €120 million (about ₩209.9 billion), while Bukayo Saka is valued at €110 million (around ₩192.4 billion). Harry Kane's market value stands at €60 million (approximately ₩105 billion).
Jordan Henderson is the lowest-valued player on the England squad, with a valuation of €1.2 million (about ₩21 billion), highlighting a stark contrast of over 100 times compared to Bellingham. The differences in valuations within the same team can be attributed to age, position, contract status, and market demand.
For Croatia, the highest-valued player is Josko Gvardiol, valued at €70 million (approximately ₩122.5 billion). Luka Buskovic follows at €60 million (around ₩105 billion), while both Petar Sucic and Josip Stanisic are valued at €40 million (about ₩70 billion) each.
Luka Modric, a symbol of Croatian football, has a valuation of €3.5 million (approximately ₩61 billion). Ivan Perisic is valued at €1.2 million (around ₩21 billion), making him the lowest on the team. Bellingham's valuation exceeds that of Perisic by more than 100 times.
However, these numbers do not necessarily reflect a player's impact on the game. Market values are estimates influenced by age, contract duration, league affiliation, potential, recent performance, and transfer likelihood. A lower valuation for Modric does not diminish his importance to the Croatian national team.
Croatia is particularly difficult to quantify solely by numbers. The team finished third in the 1998 World Cup and was the runner-up in the 2018 World Cup. They also secured third place in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, reaching the semifinals in their last two World Cup appearances.
England boasts star power with key players like Bellingham, Rice, Saka, and Kane, making them strong contenders for the tournament. The match also marks the first World Cup game under German coach Thomas Tuchel, adding to the intrigue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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