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 showcase its ability beyond the numbers.
On June 18 at 5 AM KST, England and Croatia will compete in their first group stage match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The group also includes Ghana and Panama.
Based on 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 2.38 trillion won). In contrast, Croatia's squad is valued at €387.3 million (about 677.5 billion won), making England's value roughly 3.5 times that of Croatia.
England also leads in FIFA rankings, sitting at fourth place, while Croatia is ranked 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 won). Declan Rice follows at €120 million (about 209.9 billion won), and Bukayo Saka is valued at €110 million (around 192.4 billion won). Harry Kane's value is €60 million (approximately 105 billion won).
The lowest-valued player in the England squad is Jordan Henderson, with a valuation of €1.2 million (about 21 billion won). This represents a stark contrast, as Henderson's value is over 100 times lower than that of Bellingham. Within the same team, player valuations can vary significantly based on age, position, contract status, and market demand.
For Croatia, the highest-valued player is Josko Gvardiol, valued at €70 million (approximately 122.5 billion won). Luka Buskovic follows at €60 million (about 105 billion won), while Petar Sucic and Josip Stanisic are each valued at €40 million (around 70 billion won).
Luka Modric, a symbol of Croatian football, has a valuation of €3.5 million (approximately 61 billion won). Ivan Perisic is valued at €1.2 million (about 21 billion won), making him the lowest in the national team. Bellingham's valuation exceeds Perisic's by more than 100 times.
However, these figures 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 significance to the Croatian national team.
Croatia is particularly difficult to quantify solely by numbers. The team finished third in the 1998 World Cup in France and was the runner-up in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They also secured third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, reaching the semifinals in both of the last two tournaments.
England boasts star power with key players like Bellingham, Rice, Saka, and Kane, making them strong contenders for the title. 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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