FIFA World Cup 2026 · Final draw
World Cup 2026 Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Six fixtures across 17 Jun–27 Jun at 5 venues. The top two from Group L progress directly to the Round of 32; third place may still go through as one of the eight best third-placed finishers across the twelve groups.
- Group fixtures
- 6
- Window
- 17 Jun – 27 Jun
- Venues
- 5
- Slots advancing
- 2 + 3rd-place pool
Group L preview
What to expect
Tuchel's England in a group that looks kind on paper — Croatia are an ageing 2018 finalist, Ghana have Kudus and Williams, Panama are the perennial CONCACAF nuisance who beat the USA in qualifying.
Schedule
Group L fixtures
All six Group L matches, ordered by date and local kick-off. Times shown in the venue's local zone.
| Date | KO (local) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun | 15:00 | England v Croatia | AT&T Stadium · Arlington |
| 17 Jun | 19:00 | Ghana v Panama | BMO Field · Toronto |
| 23 Jun | 16:00 | England v Ghana | Gillette Stadium · Foxborough |
| 23 Jun | 19:00 | Panama v Croatia | BMO Field · Toronto |
| 27 Jun | 17:00 | Panama v England | MetLife Stadium · East Rutherford |
| 27 Jun | 17:00 | Croatia v Ghana | Lincoln Financial Field · Philadelphia |
The four nations
Squads & storylines
Current head coach, the player most likely to define the tournament for them, and a quick read on form via FIFA ranking and recent World Cup history.
England
FIFA #4- Manager
- Thomas Tuchel
- Key player
- Jude Bellingham
- Last WC
- QF 2022
View England tickets →
Croatia
FIFA #11- Manager
- Zlatko Dalić
- Key player
- Luka Modrić
- Last WC
- 3rd place (2022)
View Croatia tickets →
Ghana
FIFA #74- Manager
- Otto Addo
- Key player
- Mohammed Kudus
- Last WC
- Group stage (2022)
Panama
FIFA #33- Manager
- Thomas Christiansen
- Key player
- Adalberto Carrasquilla
- Last WC
- Group stage (2018)
How Group L works
Three matches · Six fixtures
Each team plays the other three exactly once — six total group-stage fixtures. Three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a defeat. Ties resolved on goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head record, then fair-play points.
- 1st place
- Direct to Round of 32 as a top seed. Reseeded path avoids other group winners until the quarter-finals where possible.
- 2nd place
- Direct to Round of 32. Likely to face a group winner from a paired group in the first knockout tie.
- 3rd place
- Still alive. The eight best third-placed sides from the twelve groups progress to the R32. Ranked on points first, then goal difference and goals scored.
- 4th place
- Eliminated. Tournament ends after the third matchday for the group's bottom side.
Other groups
Browse the rest of the draw
FAQ
Group L — frequently asked
Which teams are in World Cup 2026 Group L?
Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. The draw was made by FIFA on 5 December 2025; teams play each other once in a single round-robin across the group stage.
How many matches will Group L play?
Six matches in total. Each of the four teams plays the other three exactly once, across three matchdays between 11 and 27 June 2026. Three points for a win, one for a draw.
How does Group L qualify for the knockouts?
The top two finishers in Group L qualify directly for the Round of 32. The third-placed side enters the pool of twelve third-placed sides across the group stage — the best eight on points, then goal difference, then goals scored, advance alongside them. Fourth place is eliminated.
Where can I buy tickets for Group L matches?
Anyseats lists verified secondary-market tickets from sellers in our authentication network for every Group L fixture as inventory becomes available. Every listing is identity-matched against the named ticket holder; every order is backed by our 100% Buyer Guarantee. FIFA's official Last-Minute Sales Phase also runs face-value sales on a first-come-first-served basis until kick-off where supply remains.