Group L – FIFA World Cup 2026

Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. It is one of the most tactically varied groups in the tournament because it combines two European heavyweights with a dangerous African side and a physically resilient CONCACAF team.

Group L starts on June 17, 2026 with England vs Croatia in Dallas and Ghana vs Panama in Toronto. The group concludes on June 27, 2026, when Panama face England at New York New Jersey Stadium and Croatia meet Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium.

England are the favorites because they have the deepest squad, the strongest recent record in major tournaments, and the highest attacking ceiling in the group. Croatia are the most credible challengers for first place, while Ghana and Panama are both capable of making the race tighter than seedings suggest.

Yes. In the 48-team World Cup format, the top two teams in each group qualify automatically and the eight best third-placed teams also advance. That gives every Group L side a realistic route to the knockout stage if they can collect enough points and protect goal difference.

England vs Croatia is the glamour tie because it pairs the two favorites and revisits a modern World Cup rivalry. In practical qualification terms, Ghana vs Panama may be almost as important, since the winner of that opening game could completely reshape the race for second and third place.

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