WORLD CUP 2026
England's Group L — Everything You Need to Know
TL;DR — The 30-second version
- England are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama
- First game: Croatia — Wednesday 17 June, Dallas, 9pm UK time
- Second game: Ghana — Tuesday 23 June, Boston, 9pm UK time
- Third game: Panama — Saturday 27 June, New York, 10pm UK time
- Win the group and England avoid the very top seeds until the semi-finals
- Croatia are the biggest threat — they knocked England out in the 2018 semi-final
England are in Group L — Here's What That Means
When the World Cup draw was made in Washington DC in December 2025, England were drawn into Group L — one of 12 groups in a tournament that, for the first time ever, features 48 teams. Group L contains four countries: England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Each team plays the other three once, earning points for wins and draws. The top two teams from the group qualify automatically for the knockout rounds. The third-placed team might also go through — if they accumulate enough points compared to other third-place finishes across all 12 groups. The bottom team goes home.
Win the group, and England’s path through the tournament gets significantly easier. As a top-seeded nation, winning Group L means England cannot face fellow top seeds Spain, France or Argentina until the semi-finals at the absolute earliest. That’s not a guaranteed route to the final — but it’s a much kinder draw than finishing second.
England's Three Fixtures — Dates, Venues and UK Kickoff Times
| Date | Match | Venue | UK Kickoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 17 June | England vs Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas), Texas | 9pm BST |
| Tue 23 June | England vs Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston), Massachusetts | 9pm BST |
| Sat 27 June | Panama vs England | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York), New Jersey | 10pm BST |
All three of England’s group matches are in the United States — good news for fans travelling. England’s team base for the tournament is Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, and they fly to each match city from there.
For fans watching from the UK, all three matches kick off in the evening — 9pm for the first two and 10pm for the Panama game. That’s because the US East Coast is five hours behind British Summer Time, and Dallas (where England play Croatia) is six hours behind.
The Three Opponents — Who Are They?
🇭🇷 Croatia (The Vatreni — The Blazers)
- Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
- FIFA Ranking: 12th in the world
- World Cups played: 6 World Cups
- Best World Cup result: Runners-up 2018, third place 1998 and 2022
- Manager: Zlatko Dalić
- One to watch: Luka Modrić (AC Milan, age 40)
- Why they matter:
- Croatia consistently do far more than anyone expects. They've reached the top three at the World Cup in half of their appearances — a remarkable record for a country of just four million people. Their greatest player, Luka Modrić, is 40 years old and playing his fifth World Cup. He won the Ballon d'Or — the award for the world's best player — in 2018, the year Croatia reached the final. He is still playing, still influential, still dangerous. Alongside him, Joško Gvardiol (at Manchester City) and Mateo Kovačić are world-class operators. This is not a team England can take lightly.
- The England threat:
- Croatia beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, scoring in extra time to win 2-1 when England were the better team for much of the match. That wound has not fully healed. They will not be intimidated by England and they know exactly how to beat them.
🇬🇭 Ghana (The Black Stars)
- Confederation: CAF (Africa)
- FIFA Ranking: Around 60th in the world
- World Cups played: 4 World Cups
- Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals 2010
- Manager: Otto Addo
- One to watch: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
- Why they matter:
- Ghana are the most unpredictable team in Group L. They went to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals and were a single moment away from becoming the first African team to reach a semi-final — Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez handled a goal-bound shot on the line in the last minute, was sent off, and Ghana missed the resulting penalty. That match remains one of the most controversial in World Cup history. The current Ghana squad is built around Premier League stars Mohammed Kudus (West Ham) and Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) — two of the most exciting forwards in English football. They have pace, directness and the ability to hurt any defence.
- The England threat:
- England have only played Ghana once before — a 1-1 friendly in 2011. There is no history to lean on here. Ghana are not expected to top the group but they are capable of beating England on their day, especially if Kudus is fit and in form.
🇵🇦 Panama (Los Canaleros — The Canal Men)
- Confederation: CONCACAF (North/Central America)
- FIFA Ranking: Around 70th in the world
- World Cups played: 1 World Cup (2018)
- Best World Cup result: Group stage 2018
- Manager: Thomas Christiansen
- One to watch: Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla
- Why they matter:
- Panama are the underdogs of the group — but they've earned their place here. This is only their second World Cup, having qualified for the first time in 2018. They lost all three matches that year, including a 6-1 defeat to England in which Harry Kane scored a hat-trick. But qualifying again in 2026 shows this is a team that has continued to develop. Their captain Aníbal Godoy is experienced, their manager Thomas Christiansen (a former Spain international who was once the top scorer in the German Bundesliga) has built a solid, organised side. They will be difficult to beat even if not expected to win.
- The England threat:
- England have happy memories of playing Panama — a 6-1 win at the 2018 World Cup is England's biggest ever World Cup victory. Harry Kane got a hat-trick that day. Expect England to win this match, but Panama will not roll over. Their goal in that 2018 game — scored by Felipe Baloy — was the first goal Panama had ever scored at a World Cup, and they celebrated it like a victory.
England's Chances — Plain English Assessment
England are favourites to win Group L. Croatia are the biggest test, and that opening fixture on 17 June will set the tone for the whole tournament. A win against Croatia, and England are in an excellent position. A defeat, and the pressure immediately mounts.
Ghana are capable of an upset — particularly if Mohammed Kudus is fit and firing. England will need to take them seriously. The Panama game should be the most comfortable of the three, but Panama are organised and hard to break down.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has made bold selections — leaving out established names like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold — and has a specific idea of how he wants England to play. If that approach clicks in the group stage, England could cruise through in good shape. If it doesn’t, the questions will come thick and fast.
The optimistic view: England win the group, avoid the very top teams until the semis, and arrive at the knockout stage with momentum. The pessimistic view: Croatia beat them in the opener and suddenly it’s a nervous tournament. Football, as always, will decide.
What happens if England finish third?
- Even if England finish third in Group L, they could still qualify for the Round of 32 if their points tally is good enough compared to other third-placed teams across all 12 groups. This new format means third place is not automatically elimination — but it's a much less comfortable position to be in. England will be aiming for the top two.
