2026 FIFA World Cup Group L: Schedule, Standings & Prediction
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L is the toughest on paper. England and Croatia are the only two top-10 teams paired in the same group, making this the group no one wanted to draw. England arrive ranked fourth in the world, carrying a nation’s hope of ending a 60-year wait for a World Cup title under Thomas Tuchel.
Croatia arrive ranked 11th, with Luka Modric at 40 years old chasing the one trophy that has eluded him across five World Cups. Ghana land in North America with a new, unnamed manager after Otto Addo was sacked just 72 days before the tournament. Panama make their second-ever World Cup appearance, determined to build on the memories of 2018.
England’s March friendlies raised questions. A 1-1 draw with Uruguay and a 0-1 loss to Japan at Wembley, England’s first-ever defeat to an Asian nation, prompted boos at full-time. Kane sat out Japan with a knock. Without him, England scored zero goals across both matches. Tuchel will announce his 26-man squad on May 26. Croatia beat Colombia 2-1 and lost 1-3 to Brazil in March, showing they remain competitive heading into the tournament.
The top two teams advance to the Round of 32. The Group L winner faces the best third-place team from Groups E, H, I, J or K. The runner-up faces the Group K runner-up. England vs Croatia on June 17 in Dallas is the group opener the world will be watching.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group L Teams
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Rank (Apr 2026) | WC Appearances | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | UEFA | #4 | 16th | 1 |
| Croatia | UEFA | #11 | 7th | 2 |
| Panama | CONCACAF | #33 | 2nd | 4 |
| Ghana | CAF | #74 | 5th | 3 |
Group L Match Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern Time (ET). FOX and FS1 broadcast in English. All matches stream on Peacock.
Matchday 1 (Friday, June 17)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | 4:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | FOX |
| Ghana vs Panama | 7:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada | FS1 |
Matchday 2 (Tuesday, June 23)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Ghana | 4:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA | FOX |
| Panama vs Croatia | 7:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada | FS1 |
Matchday 3 (Saturday, June 27)
Both Matchday 3 games kick off simultaneously at 5:00 PM ET on June 27.
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama vs England | 5:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | FOX |
| Croatia vs Ghana | 5:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | FS1 |
Group L Standings
Standings update after June 17, 2026.
| Pos | 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 | Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Ghana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Top 2 teams advance to the Round of 32
- Best 8 third-place teams across all 12 groups also advance
- 4 points is close to guaranteed third-place advancement; 3 points may be enough with a strong goal difference
Tiebreaker order: Goal difference > Goals scored > Head-to-head points > Head-to-head goal difference > Head-to-head goals scored > Fair play score > FIFA ranking
Venue Guide: Where Group L Matches Are Played
| Match | Stadium | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, TX | 80,000 |
| Ghana vs Panama | BMO Field | Toronto, Canada | 45,500 |
| England vs Ghana | Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, MA | 65,878 |
| Panama vs Croatia | BMO Field | Toronto, Canada | 45,500 |
| Panama vs England | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ | 82,500 |
| Croatia vs Ghana | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA | 69,796 |
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is the largest Group L venue and will also host the World Cup final on July 19. BMO Field in Toronto hosts two Group L matches, giving Panama a Canadian base for their early fixtures.
How to Watch Group L Matches
| Country | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| USA | FOX, FS1, Telemundo, Universo | Peacock, FOX Sports App |
| UK | ITV, BBC | ITVX, BBC iPlayer |
| Canada | CTV, TSN, RDS | TSN+, CTV GO |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| England / Croatia | ITV, BBC / HRT | ITVX / HRT web |
| Ghana | Adom TV, GTV | GTV online |
| Panama | TVN, Telemetro | TVN Go |
Full global broadcaster details are available at 2026 FIFA World Cup TV channels and broadcasting rights.
Group L Team Analysis and Preview
England
Manager: Thomas Tuchel (since early 2025, contract extended to 2028)
England qualified with a perfect record, winning all six matches without conceding a single goal in UEFA qualifying. Tuchel was brought in to end England’s 60-year wait for a World Cup title. March 2026 sent a warning: a 1-1 draw with Uruguay (White 81′, Valverde pen 90+4′) and a shock 0-1 loss to Japan (Mitoma 23′) left Wembley fans booing. Without Kane, who sat out Japan with a knock, England offered little. Tuchel will name his 26-man squad on May 26.
Key players: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, captain, England all-time top scorer with 78 goals in 112 caps), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jordan Pickford (GK, Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/Barcelona loan), Marc Guehi (CB, Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (CB, Aston Villa).
World Cup record: 16 appearances. Winners in 1966 (beat West Germany 4-2 AET on home soil). Finished fourth in 1990 and 2018.
Last appearance: 2022. Reached the quarter-finals before losing 2-1 to France.
Croatia
Manager: Zlatko Dalic (since 2017)
Dalic led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 third-place finish. They qualified top of UEFA Group L unbeaten, sealing it with a 3-1 win over Faroe Islands. Luka Modric, at 40 and playing for AC Milan, captains what is likely his final World Cup. Josko Gvardiol suffered a tibial fracture and his fitness for June is uncertain. Croatia beat Colombia 2-1 and lost 1-3 to Brazil in March.
Key players: Luka Modric (AC Milan, captain, 40 years old, 194 caps, 2018 Ballon d’Or winner), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City, 111+ caps), Ivan Perisic (37, 2nd all-time Croatia scorer with 38 goals), Andrej Kramaric (34), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, CB, fitness doubt), Dominik Livakovic (GK).
World Cup record: 7 appearances (1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026). Did not qualify for 2010.
Best finish: Runners-up 2018 (lost final 2-4 to France). Also finished third in 1998 and 2022.
Ghana
Manager: Not yet named (Otto Addo sacked March 31, 2026)
Ghana qualified top of CAF Group I but arrived at the World Cup in crisis. Four straight losses, including a 1-5 defeat to Austria and a 1-2 loss to Germany in March, led the Ghana FA to sack Otto Addo on March 31, just 72 days before the World Cup. A new manager had not been officially named at the time of publication. Ghana will face England, Croatia and Panama with a recently appointed manager still bedding in.
Key players: Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City, veteran).
World Cup record: 5 appearances (2006, 2010, 2014, 2022, 2026). Did not qualify for 2018.
Best finish: Quarter-finals 2010, eliminated by Uruguay on penalties after Luis Suarez’s infamous handball on the goal line.
Panama
Manager: Thomas Christiansen (since 2020)
Panama make their second World Cup appearance. Christiansen, a former Spain international, has built a disciplined, well-organised side that reached the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League final and the 2023 Gold Cup final. In March 2026 they drew 1-1 with South Africa twice. At the 2018 World Cup, England beat them 6-1 with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick, and substitute Felipe Baloy scored Panama’s first-ever World Cup goal.
Key players: Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM, 2023 Gold Cup Best Player), Ismael Diaz (forward), Amir Murillo (right back, Besiktas, 90+ caps).
World Cup record: 2 appearances (2018, 2026). In 2018, they lost all three group matches and finished last.
Head-to-Head Records
| Matchup | Overall H2H | Key Result |
|---|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | 11 meetings | Croatia beat England 2-1 AET in 2018 WC semi-final (Mandzukic 109′). England beat Croatia 1-0 at Euro 2020. |
| England vs Panama | Several meetings | England 6-1 Panama at 2018 WC (Kane hat-trick, Baloy scored Panama’s first-ever WC goal) |
| England vs Ghana | Several meetings | England hold strong historical advantage |
| Croatia vs Panama | Never met | First-ever meeting on June 23 |
| Croatia vs Ghana | 2 meetings | Competitive results in both prior meetings |
| Ghana vs Panama | Several meetings | Ghana historically stronger but Panama improving |
The England vs Croatia rivalry is the group’s most loaded. Croatia ended England’s 2018 World Cup dream with Mandzukic’s 109th-minute winner. England gained partial revenge at Euro 2020 with a 1-0 group stage win. June 17 in Dallas is their first World Cup group-stage meeting.
Why Group L is Interesting
- Group L is the only group in the tournament with two top-10 ranked teams. England (#4) and Croatia (#11) make this statistically the highest-quality group on paper
- England vs Croatia on June 17 is their first group-stage meeting in World Cup history. Croatia won the 2018 semi-final 2-1 AET; England won the Euro 2020 group game 1-0. This is round three of a defining rivalry
- Modric at 40 chasing glory. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner captains Croatia in his likely final World Cup, seeking the one trophy that has eluded him. No one counts him or his team out
- England’s 60-year wait. Tuchel has the squad depth, the top scorer in Kane, and a group they must advance from. The burden of expectation is enormous
- Ghana in chaos. A new manager, four consecutive defeats, and a coaching upheaval 72 days out. Their opener against Panama on June 17 is effectively a must-win
- Panama’s rivalry with England continues. In 2018 England hammered them 6-1, with Kane scoring a hat-trick and Baloy scoring Panama’s first-ever World Cup goal. They meet again on June 27 at the MetLife Stadium
2026 World Cup Group L Predictions
- Matchday 1: England 2-0 Croatia. Ghana 1-1 Panama.
- Matchday 2: England 3-0 Ghana. Croatia 2-1 Panama.
- Matchday 3: Croatia 2-1 Ghana. Panama 0-2 England.
Our Final Predicted Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 9 | Advance |
| 2 | Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | Advance |
| 3 | Ghana | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Panama | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 | Eliminated |
- 6 points: certain advancement
- 4 points: strong chance with a good goal difference
- 1 point: very unlikely to advance as a best third-place team
Group L Road to the Round of 32
| Finish | Next Match | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Round of 32 (Atlanta) | Best 3rd place from Groups E/H/I/J/K |
| 2nd | Round of 32 | Group K runner-up |
The Group L winner plays in Atlanta against the best third-place team from Groups E, H, I, J or K. The runner-up faces the Group K runner-up. Group K contains Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group L FAQs
Who is in Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Group L consists of England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
When does Group L start?
Group L opens on Friday, June 17, 2026. England face Croatia at 4:00 PM ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Ghana face Panama at 7:00 PM ET at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada.
Have England beaten Croatia at the World Cup?
No. England and Croatia have never met at a World Cup group stage before 2026. Their only World Cup meeting was the 2018 semi-final in Russia, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra time with Mario Mandzukic scoring in the 109th minute. England beat Croatia 1-0 at the Euro 2020 group stage, but the sides have never met at a World Cup until Group L on June 17, 2026.
What is England’s best World Cup result?
England won the World Cup in 1966, beating West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley. It remains their only World Cup title. Outside of that, England finished fourth in 1990 (beaten by West Germany on penalties in the semi-final) and again in 2018 (beaten 2-1 by Croatia after extra time in the semi-final).
Is this Luka Modric’s last World Cup?
Almost certainly. Modric will be 40 years old at the 2026 tournament, playing in his fifth World Cup for Croatia. He played in 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022, leading Croatia to the final in 2018 and winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. At 44 years old in 2030, a sixth World Cup would be extraordinary. The 2026 tournament is widely expected to be his farewell on the biggest stage.
What happened to Ghana’s manager before the World Cup?
Ghana sacked Otto Addo on March 31, 2026, just 72 days before the World Cup began. The decision followed four consecutive defeats including a 1-5 loss to Austria and a 1-2 loss to Germany in the March international window. The Ghana Football Association stated they would communicate their new appointment in due course. Ghana arrived at the 2026 World Cup with a new, recently appointed manager.
Is this Panama’s first World Cup?
No. Panama are making their second World Cup appearance. They debuted at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they were drawn in Group G with Belgium, England and Tunisia. They lost all three matches and finished last in the group. Felipe Baloy scored Panama’s first-ever World Cup goal in the 6-1 loss to England, where Harry Kane scored a hat-trick.
Group L runs June 17 to June 27. England are favourites to win the group. Croatia are the strongest challenge. Check back after each matchday for updated standings.
