2026 FIFA World Cup: England Schedule, Results, Scores & Standings

As one of the pre-tournament favourites, England arrives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a squad dripping in Premier League stardust and a burning desire to end 60 years of hurt since their 1966 triumph.

Under manager Thomas Tuchel, the Three Lions boast a frightening blend of experience and flair: record goalscorer Harry Kane leading the line, Jude Bellingham pulling strings in midfield like a Ballon d’Or contender, Declan Rice anchoring with steel, and wing wizards Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden ready to terrorise defences.

After reaching the Euro 2024 final, this feels like England’s moment to finally go all the way.

The expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, explodes into life on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca and climaxes with the final on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

Drawn into Group L alongside 2018 finalists Croatia, African powerhouse Ghana, and CONCACAF battlers Panama, England faces a spicy but winnable group.

The opener against Croatia is a mouth-watering rematch of that 2018 semi-final thriller. All three group games are on U.S. soil—perfect for the huge traveling Three Lions army.

Group L Opponents: Who Stands in Three Lions’ Way?

England faces a challenging but navigationable path in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they are drawn against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. While England enters as the heavy favorite to win the group, their opponents present a mix of elite European pedigree, African athleticism, and Central American resilience.

Group L Opponent Profiles

Croatia

World Ranking: 11st
Coach: Zlatko Dalić (Since October 2017)
Key Players: Luka Modrić, Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić
How they got here: Finished 1st in UEFA Group L with 7 wins and 1 draw.
Appearance: 7th (reached 2018 final and 2022 semi-finals)
Playing style: Defined by midfield technical quality, composure under pressure, and a blend of veteran intelligence with young defensive talent.
Head to Head: England has 6 wins, Croatia has 3, and there have been 2 draws. Notable recent match: Croatia beat England 2–1 in the 2018 World Cup semi-final

Ghana

World Ranking: 72nd
Coach: Otto Addo (Since March 2024)
Key Players: Iñaki Williams, Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo
How they got here: Topped African Qualifying Group I with 25 points from 10 matches.
Appearance: 5th (best finish: Quarter-finals in 2010)
Playing style: Athletic and physical with high individual flair, particularly from Premier League-based attackers.
Head to Head: 1 meeting (a 1–1 friendly draw in 2011); this will be their first-ever competitive match.

Panama

World Ranking: 33rd
Coach: Thomas Christiansen (Since July 2020)
Key Players: Adalberto Carrasquilla, José Fajardo, Amir Murillo
How they got here: Finished 1st in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.
Appearance: 2nd (debut was in 2018)
Playing style: Disciplined collective organization focused on quick transitions and defensive resilience.
Head to Head: 1 meeting; England won 6–1 during the 2018 World Cup group stage.