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Jun 17, 20261
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Harry Kane aims to start World Cup campaign with England against Croatia
Harry Kane will start England's World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia in Dallas and could match David Beckham's mark of 115 England appearances if he plays. Kane said the milestone would be especially meaningful because Beckham was a childhood idol, and he described himself as being in the best shape of his career.
The England captain also warned that Croatia will be a difficult opponent, recalling England's 2-1 semifinal loss to them at the 2018 World Cup. He said England wants to begin the tournament strongly and believes the team is capable of going far.
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Quick Facts
Who
Harry Kane
What
Harry Kane is set to play England's World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia
When
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Where
Dallas, United States
- Harry Kane is set to play England's World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia
- Kane could equal David Beckham's England caps total of 115
- Kane said Beckham was a childhood idol
- Kane described the upcoming match as difficult and praised Croatia's organisation
- Kane said he believes he is in the best season of his career
Harry Kane is set to begin England's World Cup 2026 campaign on Wednesday against Croatia in Dallas, with kick-off scheduled for 5 p.m. Brasília time. The England captain said the match will also bring a personal milestone: if he plays, he will equal David Beckham's total of 115 appearances for the national team, moving into third place on England's all-time caps list.
Kane said reaching the same number of caps as Beckham is especially meaningful because Beckham was one of his childhood idols. He described the milestone as a sign of the consistency required to stay at the highest level for many years, and said that longevity separates very good players from great ones.
The 32-year-old forward said he believes he is in the best form of his career, pointing to both his scoring record and his physical and mental condition. Kane, England's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, also said the end of the previous club season, when he won a league title and a cup with Bayern Munich, gave him extra motivation heading into the tournament.
England's opening opponents are familiar. Kane was part of the side beaten 2-1 by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semifinal in Russia, but he said much has changed since then. He called Croatia a well-organised and dangerous team, while stressing that England also sees itself as difficult to beat and intends to play with its own style.
Why This Matters
Kane’s opener is more than a tournament start: if he plays, he will tie one of England’s most recognizable appearance records while entering a high-stakes group-stage match against a familiar knockout opponent. For readers tracking England’s World Cup prospects, this matters because Kane’s form, fitness, and leadership will shape expectations for how far the team can go, and the Croatia matchup is an early test of whether England can convert ambition into momentum.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2005
WireHarry Kane took a photo with David Beckham.
Jan 1, 2018
WireEngland lost 2-1 to Croatia in the World Cup semifinal in Russia.
Jun 17, 2026
WireKane was scheduled to lead England against Croatia in their World Cup 2026 opener in Dallas.