The opening match of Group L at the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup will test whether England can demonstrate their superiority or if Croatia can once again 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. 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 squad is €1.36 billion (approximately 2.38 trillion won), while 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, holding the 4th position compared to Croatia's 11th. Both the squad value and rankings indicate England's advantage.
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 is valued at €60 million (about 105 billion won).
The player with the lowest market value on the England team is Jordan Henderson, at €1.2 million (approximately 21 billion won). This represents a stark contrast, as Bellingham's value exceeds Henderson's by over 100 times. Within the same team, player values can vary significantly due to age, position, contract status, and market demand.
For Croatia, the highest-valued player is Josko Gvardiol, with a valuation of €70 million (approximately 122.5 billion won). Luka Buskovic is valued 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 market value of €350,000 (approximately 61 billion won). Ivan Perisic is valued at €120,000 (about 21 billion won), making him one of the lowest on the team. Bellingham's valuation surpasses 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 importance to the Croatian national team.
Croatia is particularly difficult to quantify solely by numbers. The team finished third in the 1998 World Cup, reached the finals in 2018, and secured third place again in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. They have consistently reached the semifinals or better in the last two World Cups.
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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