2026 FIFA World Cup Group L: Final Standings, Results & Schedule
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L ended with three teams reaching the knockout stage. England beat Panama 2-0 to win the group, Croatia edged Ghana 2-1 to take second, and Ghana still went through as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Panama finished bottom and are out. England, Croatia and Ghana all advance to the Round of 32.
England finished top with seven points, sealing a comfortable winners’ spot, while Croatia’s hard-fought win over Ghana lifted them to six. Ghana’s four points proved enough to claim a best third-placed berth across the 12 groups, rewarding Carlos Queiroz’s organised side after a strong campaign.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group L Teams
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Rank (June 2026) | WC Appearances | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | UEFA | #4 | 16th | 1 |
| Croatia | UEFA | #11 | 7th | 2 |
| Ghana | CAF | #73 | 5th | 3 |
| Panama | CONCACAF | #34 | 2nd | 4 |
2026 FIFA World Cup Group L Results: All Three Matchdays
England 4-2 Croatia (June 17). Harry Kane struck twice, with Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford also scoring. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa replied, but a porous defence cost Croatia in Arlington.
Ghana 1-0 Panama (June 17). Under new coach Carlos Queiroz, Ghana snatched a stoppage-time win in Toronto through Caleb Yirenkyi, after Panama had dominated possession.
England 0-0 Ghana (June 23). The two Matchday 1 winners cancelled each other out in Foxborough, a disciplined Ghana display earning a valuable point against the group favourites.
Croatia 1-0 Panama (June 23). Croatia ground out a much-needed win in Toronto to bounce back from their opening defeat, a result that eliminated Panama.
Panama 0-2 England (June 27). England saw off an already-eliminated Panama to top the group with seven points and a comfortable winners’ finish before the knockouts.
Croatia 2-1 Ghana (June 27). Croatia won the decider in Philadelphia to grab second place, but Ghana’s four points were still enough to go through as a best third-placed team.
Final 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L Standings
Final standings after Matchday 3 (June 27, 2026).
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 |
| 2 | Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Ghana | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Panama | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
England topped the group on seven points, with Croatia second on six. Ghana finished third on four points and went through as one of the eight best third-placed teams, while Panama lost all three games and are out. The tiebreaker order is goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head.
Group L Match Schedule and Scores
All times were Eastern Time (ET). FOX and FS1 carried the English broadcast, with every match streaming on Peacock.
Matchday 1 (June 17): Full Time
| Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | 4-2 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Ghana vs Panama | 1-0 | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada |
Matchday 2 (June 23): Full Time
| Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| England vs Ghana | 0-0 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA |
| Panama vs Croatia | 0-1 | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada |
Matchday 3 (June 27): Full Time
| Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Panama vs England | 0-2 | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |
| Croatia vs Ghana | 2-1 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA |
Group L Venue Guide
| 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 was the largest Group L venue and also hosts the World Cup final on July 19. BMO Field in Toronto staged both Panama fixtures across Matchday 1 and Matchday 2.
How to Watch World Cup Group L and the Knockouts
| Country | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| USA | FOX, FS1, Telemundo | Peacock, FOX Sports App |
| UK | ITV, BBC | ITVX, BBC iPlayer |
| Canada | CTV, TSN, RDS | TSN+, CTV GO |
| Croatia | HRT | HRTi |
| Ghana | GTV, Adom TV | GTV online |
Full global broadcaster details are available at 2026 FIFA World Cup TV channels and broadcasting rights.
Group L Team Analysis and Verdict
England (Group Winners)
Manager: Thomas Tuchel. England won the group with seven points, following their 4-2 defeat of Croatia and a goalless draw with Ghana by seeing off Panama. They go into the knockouts chasing a first world title since 1966.
Key players: captain and all-time top scorer Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea). Best finish: winners (1966).
Croatia (Runners-up)
Manager: Zlatko Dalic. The 2018 finalists recovered from their opening loss to beat Panama and then Ghana, finishing second on six points. Modric, at 40, drives them on in what is likely his final World Cup.
Key players: captain Luka Modric (AC Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), goalscorers Martin Baturina and Petar Musa, and centre-back Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City). Best finish: runners-up (2018).
Ghana (Best Third Place)
Manager: Carlos Queiroz. Ghana beat Panama, held England and lost narrowly to Croatia, and their four points were enough to go through as one of the best third-placed teams. The Black Stars are back in the knockout stage.
Key players: Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham), Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) and matchwinner Caleb Yirenkyi. Best finish: quarter-finals (2010).
Panama (Eliminated)
Manager: Thomas Christiansen. Panama lost all three games but pushed Ghana and Croatia close, both by a single goal, before going down to England. Christiansen’s organised side competed well but could not find the goals.
Key players: Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM), Ismael Diaz and Amir Murillo (Besiktas). Record: debuted in 2018, when Felipe Baloy scored their first-ever World Cup goal.
Group L Storylines
- Three teams advanced from Group L: England as winners, Croatia as runners-up and Ghana as one of the best third-placed sides.
- England won all the points that mattered, beating Croatia 4-2, drawing with Ghana and seeing off Panama to top the group.
- Modric, at 40 and in his fifth World Cup, lives to fight on as Croatia reach the knockouts in what is likely his final tournament.
- Panama went out with three narrow defeats, while Ghana’s gamble on Carlos Queiroz paid off with a place in the Round of 32.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group L Verdict
England came through the group with maximum control, Croatia dug deep to secure second, and Ghana’s four points were enough to join them in the knockout stage. Panama exit having competed in every game without reward. With three Group L teams advancing, attention now turns to their Round of 32 ties.
Group L Road to the Round of 32
| Team | Finish | Venue | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Winner | Atlanta | Best 3rd place (Groups E, H, I, J or K) |
| Croatia | Runner-up | TBC | Group K runner-up |
| Ghana | Best 3rd place | TBC | Group winner (to be confirmed) |
Group winners England play in Atlanta against one of the best third-placed teams. Runners-up Croatia meet the Group K runner-up, while Ghana, as a best third-placed side, face a group winner once the bracket is confirmed. Group K features Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group L FAQs
Who won 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L?
England won Group L with seven points after beating Panama 2-0. Croatia finished second on six points, and Ghana qualified third as one of the best third-placed teams.
What are the final Group L standings?
1. England 7 points (+4), 2. Croatia 6 (0), 3. Ghana 4 (0), 4. Panama 0 (-4). England, Croatia and Ghana all advanced; Panama were eliminated.
Did Ghana qualify from Group L?
Yes. Ghana finished third on four points and went through as one of the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups, despite losing 2-1 to Croatia on Matchday 3.
What were the Group L Matchday 3 results?
Panama 0-2 England and Croatia 2-1 Ghana on June 27, 2026. England won the group, Croatia took second, and Ghana still advanced as a best third-placed team.
Who do England and Croatia play in the Round of 32?
England, as group winners, play one of the best third-placed teams in Atlanta. Croatia, as runners-up, face the Group K runner-up, with exact opponents confirmed once the bracket is finalised.
Are Panama out of the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Panama lost all three group games, falling to Ghana, Croatia and England, and finished bottom of Group L on zero points.
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; they also finished fourth in 1990 and 2018.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L delivered three qualifiers. England won the group in style, Croatia battled through to second behind Modric, and Ghana’s four points carried them in as a best third-placed team. Panama leave with pride intact, and the focus now shifts to a busy Round of 32 for the trio from Group L.
