Group L Preview
England haven’t gained a World Cup since 1966, a proven fact that by no means will get previous, and by no means will get much less related. This summer time in North America, Thomas Tuchel arrives with arguably probably the most gifted Three Lions squad in many years, and a gaggle stage draw that offers them each alternative to construct momentum earlier than the knockout rounds start.
However this group isn’t a gimme. Croatia have reached the semi-finals of the final three main tournaments. Ghana have expertise that might embarrass anybody on the unsuitable day. And Panama have come a good distance from the aspect England thrashed 6-1 eight years in the past.
The stress is on England, it at all times is. The query is whether or not they can lastly deal with it.
World Cup Group L fixtures and the place to look at
Right here’s the complete listing of fixtures. Matches with an asterisk begin the day prior to this.
| Match | Date | Begin Time (BST) | ET | PT | Venue | UK TV Channel |
| England vs Croatia | Wed, June 17 | 21:00 | 16:00 | 13:00 | Arlington | ITV, ITVX |
| Ghana vs Panama | Thu, June 18 | 00:00 | 19:00* | 16:00* | Toronto | ITV, ITVX |
| England vs Ghana | Tue, June 23 | 21:00 | 16:00 | 13:00 | Foxborough | BBC, iPlayer |
| Panama vs Croatia | Wed, June 24 | 00:00 | 19:00* | 16:00* | Toronto | BBC, iPlayer |
| Panama vs England | Sat, June 27 | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | New York | ITV, ITVX |
| Croatia vs Ghana | Sat, June 27 | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | Philadelphia | ITV, ITVX |
Right here, we check out the groups intimately.
Croatia: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Zlatko Dalic
Qualification: UEFA Group L winners
Greatest World Cup: Runners-up (2018)
No person does extra with lower than Croatia. They reached the ultimate in 2018 and third place in 2022. They’ve outperformed their assets at each main event for almost a decade, and there’s no cause to suppose 2026 will probably be any totally different.
In simply seven World Cups since 1998, Croatia have reached the semi-finals 3 times, a document that calls for respect no matter squad rankings or FIFA scores.
Croatia certified with ease, topping their UEFA group forward of Czechia, profitable seven of eight matches, scoring 26 objectives and conceding simply 4.
The backbone of this staff is constructed on expertise. The squad contains 4 gamers with greater than 100 worldwide caps in Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and Andrej Kramaric.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has been excellent at each main event. Defender Josko Gvardiol returns after recovering from a damaged shin.
Croatia’s midfield stays the heartbeat of the aspect, with Kovacic and Pasalic complementing Modric, whereas Martin Baturina, Luka Sucic and Petar Sucic characterize the subsequent technology auditioning to finally substitute their captain.
The one nagging query is up entrance. No striker has nailed down the jersey outright, with Ante Budimir and Petar Musa competing for the central function.
Croatia Star Participant: Luka Modric nonetheless runs the present
Luka Modric captains the aspect at his sixth World Cup, a document that locations the 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the primary male footballers to achieve that landmark.
With 196 worldwide appearances, the previous Ballon d’Or winner holds the document for probably the most caps in Croatian soccer historical past.
Prediction: Croatia to make the knockouts
They at all times do. The England recreation in Dallas on June 17 is the group’s defining match. Whoever wins that controls Group L. Anticipate Croatia to make it exhausting for everybody.
England: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Qualification: UEFA Group Okay winners (unbeaten, zero objectives conceded)
Greatest World Cup: Winners (1966)
The event everybody again residence has been constructing in direction of. England arrive in North America with real high quality throughout the pitch, a world-class supervisor and a gaggle draw that’s manageable. There aren’t any extra excuses.
England sealed qualification with out conceding a single objective throughout eight matches, an announcement of intent that Tuchel has made his calling card.
Harry Kane captains England at his third World Cup, equalling the document set by Billy Wright in 1950, 1954 and 1958.
Kane arrives within the type of his life. He scored 58 objectives throughout all competitions for Bayern Munich this season, profitable the European Golden Shoe.
Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka will all be at their second World Cup. All three had been wonderful at Euro 2024, and all three are higher gamers now.
The choice didn’t come with out controversy. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer each didn’t make the ultimate 26 – calls that sparked huge debate amongst supporters.
England star participant: Harry Kane leads from the entrance
As a real contender to win the Ballon d’Or and in probably the most prolific type of his life, Harry Kane will bear the load of expectation this summer time.
He has added a lot of trophies to his cupboard since becoming a member of Bayern Munich three years in the past, however nothing would imply extra to him than captaining his nation to the World Cup.
And with the goalscoring type he’s in, no defence on the planet can put a cease to Kane’s hanging.
Prediction: England high the group
This squad is simply too good for this group. Croatia away is the one fixture that carries real danger, and England ought to navigate it.
Ghana: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Qualification: CAF Group I winners
Greatest World Cup: Quarter-finals (2010)
Ghana have historical past on the World Cup. The 2010 quarter-final, the handball, the tears, the penalty miss, stays one of the crucial dramatic moments within the event’s historical past. The Black Stars have been making an attempt to recapture that magic ever since.
They arrive at their fifth World Cup having navigated a troublesome build-up. A dominant qualification marketing campaign pointed in direction of a aspect on the rise, however momentum unravelled within the months main as much as the finals.
The sacking of Otto Addo introduced in vastly skilled Portuguese supervisor Carlos Queiroz, the person who has beforehand coached Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the worldwide stage.
The squad affirmation introduced a number of notable absentees. Mohammed Kudus misses the event by way of damage, a major blow to Ghana’s greatest artistic outlet.
Mohammed Salisu can also be absent with an ACL damage, weakening a defensive unit that conceded simply six objectives throughout qualifying.
The midfield is anchored by Thomas Partey of Villarreal, whose 56 caps and 15 objectives underscore his significance on the pitch. His inclusion comes regardless of pending authorized proceedings within the UK. He has pleaded not responsible.
Jordan Ayew captains the aspect and arrives at his third World Cup. He scored seven objectives and contributed seven assists throughout qualifying. Inaki Williams (Athletic Membership) and Ernest Nuamah (Lyon) add tempo to the ahead line.
Star Participant: Semenyo set to spherical off unbelievable marketing campaign
Semenyo scored 11 objectives in 27 video games for Manchester Metropolis after transferring from Bournemouth in January for an preliminary £62.5m, and helped Metropolis carry the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
He’s fast, direct and able to producing moments of particular person brilliance that may unlock any defence.
With Kudus absent, that is now unambiguously Semenyo’s event.
Prediction: Ghana combat for second place
The Croatia recreation on June 27 in Philadelphia may determine who joins England from this group. Ghana have the expertise to trigger an upset. Queiroz has the expertise to set them as much as do it.
Panama: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Thomas Christiansen
Qualification: CONCACAF (automated qualification)
Greatest World Cup: Group stage (2018)
Panama had been overwhelmed 6-1 by England at their World Cup debut in 2018. They misplaced all three video games with no level. They left Russia with two objectives to their title and a objective distinction of -9. What a distinction eight years makes.
Beneath the tutelage of ex-Leeds supervisor Thomas Christiansen, they’ve risen from 81st within the FIFA world rankings to thirty third throughout an unbelievable six-year journey, reaching an all-time excessive of twenty ninth late in 2025.
Their qualification marketing campaign noticed them choose up 4 wins from 4 within the first CONCACAF group stage, then an unbeaten second group stage to safe their place in North America with room to spare.
The squad is constructed round a trusted core: Amir Murillo at right-back (at the moment enjoying for Marseille in Ligue 1), Anibal Godoy anchoring midfield, and Yoel Barcenas offering creativity.
Veteran ahead Alberto Quintero, 38, earns his place after lacking the 2018 World Cup by way of damage. A full circle second for the striker.
Star Participant: Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla
Carrasquilla earned the 2023 Gold Cup Greatest Participant award and has established himself as considered one of Panama’s most constant performers.
He controls tempo, can unlock defences with a by way of ball and gives the artistic hyperlink between Godoy’s defensive work and the assault.
Prediction: Panama bow out
They gained’t win this group. However they gained’t roll over both. The Ghana opener in Toronto is their most winnable fixture. A degree could be a serious outcome.
Predicted World Cup 2026 Group L desk
| Wins | Attracts | Losses | Factors | |
| England | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Croatia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ghana | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Panama | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
