England vs Croatia: free live streams, TV listings and kick-off time for Nations League clash

England meet Croatia on Thursday, 12 November in Matchday 5 of the 2026/27 Nations League with a quarter‑final place close at hand — a draw will be enough for the Three Lions. The fixture carries added storylines: Harry Kane could add a record cap, Jobe Bellingham may line up alongside his brother Jude for the first time, and Croatia arrive determined to rebound from a heavy defeat earlier in the campaign.

England arrive on the back of a dominant run after a tournament-opening loss to Spain, including a 7-0 victory in Rijeka that signalled Thomas Tuchel’s side have shifted into top gear. A single point against Croatia will secure England’s progress to the knockout phase.

Croatia, coached by Slaven Bilić, have struggled for consistency since his return. Their most recent performance — a narrow 2-1 defeat to Spain — offered some improvement, but the side still seeks form and confidence. With Luka Modrić still pulling the strings in midfield and a centre‑back partnership featuring Josko Gvardiol and Luka Vuskovic now fit again, Croatia possess the individual quality to upset the hosts.

Team news and likely XIs

Manager Thomas Tuchel appears set to field a strong England selection that blends experience and youth. If Harry Kane starts he is poised to move past Peter Shilton as England’s most‑capped male player. Jobe Bellingham’s inclusion would mark the first time he and Jude have been part of the senior matchday squad together.

Probable England XI: Pickford; Alexander‑Arnold, Quansah, Burn, Hall; Rice, Anderson; J. Bellingham, Gordon, Rogers; Kane. Substitutes expected on the bench include Trafford, Steele, Gibbs‑White and others.

Probable Croatia XI: Livaković; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol, Smolčić; Kovacic, Vlasic, Baturina; Sucic, Matanovic, Misić. Luka Modrić remains available as a seasoned midfield option off the bench.

Where to watch

The match will be available on free‑to‑air channels in the nations directly involved and on paid platforms elsewhere. Below is a concise reference for broadcasters and kickoff times by zone.

Country / Region	Broadcaster / Platform	Access
United Kingdom	ITV1 / ITVX	Free (TV licence required to watch live on TV)
Republic of Ireland	Virgin Media Two / Virgin Media Play	Free
Croatia	Nova TV	Free
United States	Fubo	Paid subscription (check local package)
Canada	DAZN	Paid subscription (soccer package)
Australia	beIN Sports Connect	Subscription service (trial options may be available)

Kick‑off: 7:45pm GMT / 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT (Thursday, 12 November). In eastern Australia the match kicks off at 6:45am AEDT on Friday, 13 November.

Watching from abroad: a practical note on VPNs

If you are travelling and your usual broadcaster is blocked by regional restrictions, a virtual private network (VPN) can let your device appear to be in another country and restore access to a service you subscribe to. Using a VPN is a technical workaround and users should respect the broadcaster’s terms of service.

• Choose a reputable VPN provider with servers in the country of the broadcaster you need.
• Install the provider’s app on your device and sign in.
• Connect to a server located in the relevant country (for example, a UK server to access ITVX).
• Open the broadcaster’s app or website and sign in as usual.
• Be mindful of local laws and the service’s user agreement when streaming.

Key storylines to watch

There are simple, concrete stakes beyond the result. England need one point to advance; a win would cement top spot in the group. Harry Kane’s potential cap milestone adds personal significance to the fixture, while the Bellingham brothers pairing — if it happens — gives the match a rare family subplot at senior international level.

Croatia’s immediate priority is recovery: restoring defensive rigidity and extracting consistency from a squad that still contains world‑class figures despite recent setbacks.

Quick Q&A

When is kick‑off? 7:45pm GMT / 2:45pm ET on Thursday, 12 November (6:45am AEDT on Friday for eastern Australia).

Can I watch the match for free? In the UK, Republic of Ireland and Croatia the fixture is available free on listed public broadcasters. In other countries it is typically on subscription services.

Is using a VPN legal? VPN use is legal in most jurisdictions for legitimate purposes, such as protecting privacy or accessing services you already subscribe to while abroad. Always comply with local laws and the terms of the streaming service you are using.

Expect a competitive encounter: England arrive with momentum and a straightforward path to the quarter‑finals, while Croatia will aim to prove the Rijeka result was an anomaly rather than a trend. The result will tell whether England’s recent form continues to translate into knockout‑stage safety or whether Croatia can claim a timely scalp.