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Group L overview
England have not earned a world championship since 1966, a fact that never gets old and never becomes less relevant. This summer in North America, Thomas Tuchel arrives with perhaps the Three Lions’ most talented squad in decades and a group stage draw that gives them every opportunity to build momentum before the knockout stages begin.
But this group is not a gift. Croatia have reached the semi-finals of the last three major tournaments. Ghana has talent that can put anyone to shame on the wrong day. And Panama have come a long way from the side England beat 6-1 eight years ago.
The pressure is on England, it always is. The question is whether they can finally pull it off.
The World Cup Group L schedule and where to watch
Here is the full list of widgets. Matches with an asterisk start the day before.
| Coincidence | Date | Start Time (BST) | ET | PT | Venue | British TV channel |
| England v Croatia | Wednesday, June 17 | 21:00 hours | 4:00 p.m | 1:00 p.m | Arlington | ITV, ITVX |
| Ghana vs Panama | Thursday, June 18 | 00:00 hours | 19:00* | 16:00* | Toronto | ITV, ITVX |
| England v Ghana | Tuesday, June 23 | 21:00 hours | 4:00 p.m | 1:00 p.m | Foxborough | BBC, iPlayer |
| Panama vs. Croatia | Wednesday, June 24 | 00:00 hours | 19:00* | 16:00* | Toronto | BBC, iPlayer |
| Panama v England | Saturday, June 27 | 22:00 hours | 17:00 hours | 14:00 hours | New York | ITV, ITVX |
| Croatia vs Ghana | Saturday, June 27 | 22:00 hours | 17:00 hours | 14:00 hours | Philadelphia | ITV, ITVX |
Here we will look at the teams in detail.
Croatia: World Cup 2026 Preview, Star, Prediction
Coach: Zlatko Dalich
qualification: UEFA Group L winners
Best World Cup: Runners Up (2018)
No one does more with less than Croatia. They reached the final in 2018 and third place in 2022. They have surpassed their resources at every major tournament for nearly a decade and there is no reason to think 2026 will be any different.
In just seven World Cups since 1998, Croatia have reached the semi-finals three times, a record that demands respect regardless of the team’s ranking or FIFA rating.
Croatia qualified easily, topping their UEFA group ahead of the Czech Republic, winning seven of eight matches, scoring 26 goals and conceding just four.
The backbone of this team is built on experience. The squad features four players with more than 100 caps in Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and Andrej Kramaric.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has been outstanding at every major tournament. Defender Josko Guardiol is back after recovering from a broken tibia.
Croatia’s midfield remains the core of the team, with Kovacic and Pasalic complementing Modric, while Martin Baturina, Luka Sucic and Petar Sucic represent the next generation auditioning to eventually replace their captain.
The only nagging question is in the front. No striker has nailed down the direct jersey, with Ante Budimir and Petar Moussa competing for the central role.
Croatia star: Luka Modric is still running the show
Luka Modric is captaining the team to his sixth World Cup, a record that puts the 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the first male footballers to reach the landmark.
With 196 international matches, the former Ballon d’Or winner holds the record for the most matches in the history of Croatian football.
Prediction: Croatia will reach the knockout stages
They always do. The game against England in Dallas on June 17 is the deciding game for the group. Whoever wins controls Group L. Expect Croatia to make it difficult for everyone.
England: World Cup 2026 Preview, Star, Prediction
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
qualification: UEFA Group K Winners (Unbeaten, Zero Goals Conceded)
Best World Cup: Winners (1966)
The tournament everyone at home is rooting for. England arrive in North America with real quality on the pitch, a world-class manager and a group draw that is manageable. No more excuses.
England sealed qualification without conceding a single goal in eight games, a statement of intent that Tuchel has made his calling card.
Harry Kane captained England to his third World Cup, equaling the record set by Billy Wright in 1950, 1954 and 1958.
Kane arrives in the form of his life. He scored 58 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich this season, winning the European Golden Boot.
Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka will be at their second World Cup. All three were excellent at Euro 2024, and all three are better players now.
The choice did not come without controversy. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer both failed to reach the last 26 – calls that sparked huge debate among supporters.
England star: Harry Kane leads from the front
As a genuine contender to win the Ballon d’Or and in the most prolific form of his life, Harry Kane will bear the brunt of expectations this summer.
He has added a number of trophies to his cabinet since joining Bayern Munich three years ago, but nothing would mean more to him than captaining his country at the World Cup.
And with the goalscoring form he’s in, no defense in the world can stop Kane’s goal.
Prediction: England top the group
This team is too good for this group. Croatia away is the only game that carries real risk and England must manage it.
Ghana: World Cup 2026 Preview, Star, Prediction
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
qualification: CAF Group I winners
Best World Cup: Quarterfinals (2010)
Ghana has a history at the World Cup. The quarter-final in 2010, the hand-wringing, the tears, the missed penalty remains one of the most dramatic moments in the tournament’s history. The Black Stars have been trying to recapture that magic ever since.
They arrive at their fifth World Cup after a tough build-up. A dominant qualifying campaign pointed to a side on the rise, but the momentum crumbled in the months leading up to the finals.
The sacking of Otto Addo brought in the highly experienced Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, the man who had previously coached Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the world stage.
Confirmation of the line-up resulted in a few notable absences. Mohammed Kudus misses the tournament due to injury, a major blow to Ghana’s top creative channel.
Mohamed Salisu is also out with an ACL injury, weakening a defensive unit that allowed just six goals in qualifying.
The midfield is anchored by Villarreal’s Thomas Partey, whose 56 appearances and 15 goals underline his importance on the pitch. His inclusion comes despite pending legal proceedings in the UK. He pleaded not guilty.
Jordan Ayew captains the team and arrives at his third World Cup. He scored seven goals and provided seven assists throughout the qualifiers. Inaki Williams (Athletic Club) and Ernest Nuama (Lyon) add speed to the forward line.
Star Player: Semenyo is set to complete an incredible campaign
Semenho scored 11 goals in 27 games for Manchester City after joining from Bournemouth in January for an initial £62.5m, and helped City win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
He is quick, direct and capable of creating moments of individual brilliance that can unlock any defence.
With Kudus absent, this is now unequivocally Semenyo’s tournament.
Prediction: Ghana will fight for second place
The match against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia could decide who joins England from this group. Ghana have the talent to cause an upset. Queiroz has the experience to make them do it.
Panama: World Cup 2026 Preview, Star Player, Prediction
Coach: Thomas Christiansen
qualification: CONCACAF (automatic qualification)
Best World Cup: Group Stage (2018)
Panama were beaten 6-1 by England on their World Cup debut in 2018. They lost all three matches without a point. They left Russia with two goals to their account and a goal difference of -9. What a difference eight years make.
Under former Leeds manager Thomas Christiansen, they rose from 81st in the FIFA world rankings to 33rd in an incredible six-year journey, reaching their all-time highest position of 29th at the end of 2025.
Their qualifying campaign saw them win four out of four in CONCACAF’s first group stage, then an unbeaten second group stage to secure a place in North America with reserve spots.
The team is built around a reliable core: Amir Murillo at right-back (currently playing for Marseille in Ligue 1), Anibal Godoy, a leading midfielder, and Yoel Barcenas, providing creativity.
Veteran striker Alberto Quintero, 38, earns his place after missing the 2018 World Cup through injury. A full-circle moment for the striker.
Star: Adalberto « Coco » Caracilla
Caracilla won the 2023 Gold Cup best player award and established himself as one of Panama’s most consistent players.
He controls the pace, can unlock defenses with a central ball and provides the creative link between Godoy’s defensive work and attack.
Prediction: Panama relegated
They won’t win this group. But they won’t roll over either. Ghana’s opener in Toronto is their most successful game. A point would be an important result.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L Prediction Table
| Wins | equalities | lost | Points | |
| England | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Croatia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ghana | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Panama | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
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