England
England open Group L with obvious pressure to finish first and set a clean tone before the knockout phase. Their path looks strongest when they control matches early rather than chase them late.
As of April 3, 2026, Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The section has enough experience and competitive range to stay open for longer than the seed line alone might suggest.
England bring major expectation, Croatia add tournament composure, Ghana supply pace and athletic pressure, and Panama arrive with structure and the willingness to make every match physical.
Group L Schedule
View All Matches →Below is the full 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L fixture list, including match dates, kickoff times, opponents, and venues.
June 17 • 20:00 UTC
Group L
England0 - 0
Croatia
June 17 • 23:00 UTC
Group L
Ghana0 - 0
Panama
June 23 • 20:00 UTC
Group L
England0 - 0
Ghana
June 23 • 23:00 UTC
Group L
Panama0 - 0
Croatia
June 27 • 21:00 UTC
Group L
Panama0 - 0
England
June 27 • 21:00 UTC
Group L
Croatia0 - 0
GhanaGroup L Standings
View All Standings →As of April 3, 2026, no Group L match has been played, so all four teams start level on zero points and zero goal difference. The table below will begin to separate once the section opens on June 17, 2026.
Group L
| Pos | Team | MP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Croatia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Ghana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group L Teams
Back to All Groups →Croatia
Croatia still bring major-tournament calm and enough technical control to stay dangerous in any group. They look like the clearest challenger to England at the top of the section.
Ghana
Ghana have the pace, power, and unpredictability to make this group uncomfortable for everyone. Their best route is to turn direct rivals into open, high-energy contests.
Panama
Panama bring a compact, hard-running style and usually compete well in physically demanding matches. That profile gives them a credible route to points if the group turns tight.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of April 3, 2026, Group L includes England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The group was locked in after the FIFA World Cup 2026 final draw and the completion of the last qualification decisions.
The top two teams in Group L qualify directly for the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also advance in the expanded 48-team format.
As of April 3, 2026, the Group L standings are level because no match has been played yet. All four teams start on zero points, zero wins, and zero goal difference before the opening fixtures.
Group L opens on June 17, 2026 and the final round of group-stage fixtures is scheduled for June 27, 2026. Full kickoff times and venue links are listed in the schedule section above.