Tonight, the 2026 World Cup closes its first matchday with four games — and each carries tournament weight from the very first whistle. The main storyline: England and Croatia meet again in the group stage — for the first time since the legendary 2018 semi-final in Moscow. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo kicks off what could be his final World Cup. Plan your evening — all kick-off times (Kyiv) are listed below.
Day's Schedule
- 20:00 Kyiv time. Portugal vs DR Congo (Group K, Matchday 1) — NRG Stadium, Houston
- 23:00 Kyiv time. England vs Croatia (Group L, Matchday 1) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
- 02:00 Kyiv time (June 18). Ghana vs Panama (Group L, Matchday 1) — BMO Field, Toronto
- 05:00 Kyiv time (June 18). Uzbekistan vs Colombia (Group K, Matchday 1) — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
England vs Croatia | 23:00 Kyiv time | AT&T Stadium, Dallas
This is the Group L opener and the headline event of the night. In 2018, Croatia knocked England out in the semi-finals in extra time; in 2021 at Euro, the English responded with a win at Wembley. Now comes the third chapter of this rivalry, with both sides starting from scratch. Thomas Tuchel makes his debut as England manager at a major tournament: Harry Kane leads the attack, while Croatia as ever relies on the experience of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić and Ivan Perišić. A win in this match is almost a guaranteed ticket out of the group, which also features Ghana and Panama.
What's at stake — a psychological edge in the group and a three-point head start. Both sides open their Group L campaign, so any result will immediately shape the standings ahead of the next rounds on June 23 and 27.
Portugal vs DR Congo | 20:00 Kyiv time | NRG Stadium, Houston
Cristiano Ronaldo steps out for his sixth World Cup — a record among outfield players. Portugal, the reigning UEFA Nations League 2025 champion, enters as one of the trophy contenders. DR Congo returns to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, with Premier League players Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki and Joao Vissa in the squad. Portugal's expected lineup (4-2-3-1): Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Inácio, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Silva, Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo. This is the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
Ghana vs Panama | 02:00 Kyiv time (June 18) | BMO Field, Toronto
The second Group L match of the same night. Ghana (ranked 72nd in the FIFA rankings) and Panama battle for points that could prove decisive in the fight for third place in the group. The result of this match will immediately affect the standings of the entire quartet — as England and Croatia will have already played by then.
Uzbekistan vs Colombia | 05:00 Kyiv time (June 18) | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
The night's final game at the legendary Azteca. Colombia are one of the most technically gifted sides in Group K, while Uzbekistan make their World Cup debut. The winner immediately moves to the top of the group alongside Portugal, who will have already played their match by then.
Recaps of all matches — in the evening edition of Mundial Tonight and the morning digest on June 18 at mundialtoday.com.
