Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings together pedigree, rivalry, and continental contrast, as European heavyweights England and Croatia are joined by African powerhouse Ghana and CONCACAF representatives Panama.
The Group L stage will be played between June 17 and June 27, 2026, forming part of the tournament’s expanded group phase running from June 11 to June 27.
A highly anticipated clash headlines the group’s opening fixtures, with England facing long-time rivals Croatia on June 17. The matchup revives memories of their dramatic 2018 World Cup semi-final, where Croatia overturned England with a 2-1 extra-time victory.
Ghana arrive with unfinished business, aiming to recapture the form that carried them to a historic quarter-final finish in 2010, while Panama seek to build on their World Cup experience following their debut appearance in 2018.
With contrasting styles, rich history, and knockout ambitions on all sides, Group L promises to be one of the most competitive sections of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Group L – Teams
England
World Ranking: 4th (as of January, 2026)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel (Since October 2024)
Key Players: Harry Kane (Captain and Bayern Munich), Jude Bellingham (Midfielder, Real Madrid), Phil Foden (Midfielder, Manchester City).
How they got here: England secured their spot by winning Group C of the UEFA qualification rounds with an unbeaten record.
World Cup Performance by Year: 1950 (Group stage), 1954 (Quarter-finals), 1958 (Group stage), 1962 (Quarter-finals), 1966 (Champions), 1970 (Quarter-finals), 1982 (Second group stage), 1986 (Quarter-finals), 1990 (Fourth place), 1998 (Round of 16), 2002 (Quarter-finals), 2006 (Quarter-finals), 2010 (Round of 16), 2014 (Group stage), 2018 (Fourth place), 2022 (Quarter-finals).
What Success Looks Like: After reaching the semi-finals (Russia 2018), the final (Euro 2020, 2024), and the quarter-finals (Qatar 2022) in their last three major tournaments, success for England is reaching the final and winning their first World Cup title since 1966. Anything less than a semi-final appearance would be seen as a disappointment given the squad’s talent.
Croatia
World Ranking: 11th (as of January, 2026)
Coach: Zlatko Dalić (Since October 2017)
Key Players: Luka Modrić (Captain and AC Milan), Joško Gvardiol (Defender, Manchester City), Mateo Kovačić (Midfielder, Manchester City).
How they got here: Croatia secured their spot by finishing as one of the best-ranked runners-up in the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) qualification rounds, earning a direct berth to the expanded tournament.
World Cup Performance by Year: 1998 (Third place), 2002 (Group stage), 2006 (Group stage), 2014 (Group stage), 2018 (Runners-up), 2022 (Third place).
What Success Looks Like: After finishing as runners-up in 2018 and third place in 2022 in their last two World Cups, success for Croatia is continuing this extraordinary run by reaching at least the semi-finals again. Reaching their second-ever final would be a phenomenal achievement.
Ghana
World Ranking: 72nd (as of January, 2026)
Coach: Otto Addo (Since March 2024)
Key Players: Iñaki Williams (Captain and Athletic Bilbao), Thomas Partey (Midfielder, Villarreal), Mohammed Kudus ( Forward, Tottenham Hotspur).
How they got here: Ghana secured their spot by winning Group B in the CAF (Confederation of African Football) qualifiers, finishing ahead of strong competition from Mali and Comoros.
World Cup Performance by Year: 2006 (Round of 16, best performance), 2010 (Quarter-finals, best performance by an African team since 2002), 2014 (Group stage), 2022 (Group stage).
What Success Looks Like: Ghana’s primary goal for 2026 is to reach the knockout stage. Replicating or exceeding their best-ever performance by reaching the semi-finals would be considered a major success for the “Black Stars” and African football.
Panama
World Ranking: 33rd (as of January, 2026)
Coach: Thomas Christiansen (Since July 2020)
Key Players: Michael Amir Murillo (Defender, Marseille), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Midfielder, Pumas UNAM), Ismael Díaz (Forward, Club León).
How they got here: Panama qualified for their second World Cup appearance by finishing high enough in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football) qualification rounds to earn a direct berth to the expanded tournament.
World Cup Performance by Year: 2018 (Group stage)
What Success Looks Like: After a winless debut in 2018, success for Panama in 2026 would be earning their first-ever World Cup points or victory. Reaching the knockout stage (Round of 32) would be a historic and monumental achievement for the nation.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L fixtures and Dates
All times are in Eastern Time (ET). Venues are across the USA and Canada for Group L.
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, June 17 | 4:00 PM | England vs. Croatia | AT&T Stadium |
| Wed, June 17 | 7:00 PM | Ghana vs. Panama | BMO Field |
| Tue, June 23 | 4:00 PM | England vs. Ghana | Gillette Stadium |
| Tue, June 23 | 7:00 PM | Panama vs. Croatia | BMO Field |
| Sat, June 27 | 5:00 PM | Panama vs. England | MetLife Stadium |
| Sat, June 27 | 5:00 PM | Croatia vs. Ghana | Lincoln Financial Field |
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L points table
The standings below will update live during the tournament. Points are awarded as follows: Win = 3, Draw = 1, Loss = 0.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| 1 | England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Croatia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Ghana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Head-to-Head Records & Historical Context
- England vs. Croatia: 11 meetings; England wins 6, draws 2, Croatia wins 3. Most recent: 2021 UEFA Euro, 1-0 England. Notable: Croatia’s 2-1 win in 2018 World Cup semifinal.
- England vs. Ghana: 1 meeting; 1-1 draw (2011 friendly).
- England vs. Panama: 1 meeting; 6-1 England win (2018 World Cup group stage).
- Croatia vs. Ghana: No official meetings.
- Croatia vs. Panama: No official meetings.
- Ghana vs. Panama: No official meetings.
Group L Outlook & Predictions
Predicted Finishing Order: 1st England, 2nd Croatia, 3rd Ghana, 4th Panama.
As one of the top four favorites for the entire tournament, England possesses superior squad depth and experience. They are expected to dominate possession and comfortably secure the top spot.
Croatia are England’s primary challengers in Group L. The 2018 World Cup finalists and 2022 third-place finishers are renowned for their tournament resilience, midfield intelligence, and ability to rise in high-pressure moments. Their opening match against England on Matchday 1 could be decisive in determining the group winner.
Dark Horses and Potential Surprises: Ghana
Ghana represent the true dark horse of Group L. While not favourites to finish in the top two, the Black Stars possess a fast, athletic squad well-suited to counter-attacking football. With a blend of experience and emerging talent, Ghana are capable of upsetting either England or Croatia and remain strong contender for qualification as one of the best third-placed teams.
Panama enter the group as underdogs but will aim to compete aggressively, gain valuable experience, and target their first-ever World Cup points.
When is the Group L matchday schedule?
Matches span June 17 (Matchday 1), June 23 (Matchday 2), and June 27 (Matchday 3), with two games per day. Please take a look at the FIFA World Cup 2026: Groups, Tables, Results, Scores.
How many teams qualify from Group L?
The top two advance automatically. The third-placed team may qualify if among the eight best third-placed across all groups.
Which city hosts which match?
- Dallas/Arlington: England vs. Croatia (June 17).
- Toronto: Ghana vs. Panama (June 17) and Panama vs. Croatia (June 23).
- Boston/Foxborough: England vs. Ghana (June 23).
- New York/New Jersey: Panama vs. England (June 27).
- Philadelphia: Croatia vs. Ghana (June 27).