Photo via Unsplash
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June 2026. England's first match — against Croatia, a repeat of that 2018 semi-final — is on Wednesday 17 June at 9pm BST. All three group games are prime-time evening kick-offs. No early alarms, no taking a half-day. Just you, your sofa, and the biggest screen you can justify.
Here are England's confirmed group stage fixtures, plus the knockout path if they get through — and everything you need to have sorted before June 17.
🏴 England's World Cup 2026 Fixtures — UK Times
GROUP STAGE — GROUP L
📍 Wednesday 17 June — 9pm BST
England vs Croatia
AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas
📍 Tuesday 23 June — 9pm BST
England vs Ghana
Gillette Stadium, Boston, Massachusetts
📍 Saturday 27 June — 10pm BST
Panama vs England
MetLife Stadium, New Jersey (World Cup Final venue)
KNOCKOUT ROUNDS — IF ENGLAND PROGRESS
Round of 32: Wednesday 1 July — 5pm BST (Atlanta, if England top group)
Round of 16: circa 8–10 July
Quarter-Final: circa 12–14 July
Semi-Final: circa 15–16 July
🏆 FINAL: Sunday 19 July — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — 8pm BST
Knockout routes depend on group results. Finishing top of Group L provides the most favourable path. Check BBC Sport or FIFA for confirmed knockout fixtures as they are announced.
What Channel is England World Cup 2026 On in the UK?
England's World Cup 2026 matches will be broadcast free-to-air on BBC and ITV. No subscription required. Every England group game is confirmed to be shown live — on your standard TV, no Sky Sports or TNT Sports needed.
This means any TV you buy will work. You just need it to be big enough, bright enough, and set up before 17 June.
Why You Need a New TV Before June 17
Here's the honest truth: the TV that was "fine" for normal watching is not fine for a World Cup semi-final at 9pm with the living room full. The difference between a 10-year-old 40-inch HD TV and a 65-inch 4K OLED is not subtle. It is the difference between watching the game and being in it.
Most TVs on Amazon UK are dispatched within 1–2 days with Prime. Order by mid-June and you'll have it set up comfortably before England kick off. But leave it too late and you're watching the Croatia game on a laptop.
Best TVs to Watch England vs Croatia — Our Picks
BEST OVERALL
LG C6 55-inch OLED evo AI — 2026 Model
TechRadar's top TV of 2026. Stunning for night football.
£1,799.00
Check Price on Amazon UK →BEST VALUE OLED
LG C5 65-inch OLED 4K — 2025 Model
Last year's flagship at record low prices. What Hi-Fi? 5 stars.
★★★★★ 4.6 / 5 · 1,430 reviews
£1,599.00
Check Price on Amazon UK →BEST FOR SPORT
Sony Bravia 8 65-inch OLED 4K
What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year. Best motion handling for fast play.
★★★★☆ 4.3 / 5 · 116 reviews
£1,599.00
Check Price on Amazon UK →BEST BUDGET BIG SCREEN
Hisense 65" 65U8QTUK MiniLED QLED 165Hz Smart AI TV
Extraordinary brightness for daytime matches. A fraction of OLED prices.
★★★★☆ 4.3 / 5 · 14 reviews
£1,249.00
Check Price on Amazon UK →Sort Your Sofa While You're at It
There's no point watching the World Cup on a spectacular new OLED if you're perched on a sofa that was past it five years ago. The ideal viewing setup is a deep, comfortable sofa at 1.6–2.4 metres from a 65-inch screen — the distance where 4K resolution actually makes a visible difference.
At Revived Sofas we have a full range of preloved sofas at a fraction of new prices. Buy a preloved corner sofa instead of a new one and you've probably just paid for your TV upgrade. Every sofa listed with full dimensions so you can plan the room before you buy.
Browse our current range at Revived Sofas →
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