The December 2025 final draw placed England into Group L alongside Croatia (2018 runners-up, 2022 third place), Ghana (2010 quarter-finalists), and Panama (back for the first time since Russia 2018). The immediate standout: England and Croatia open the group in a heavyweight Day-1 clash.
Final 26-man squads are confirmed by each country on different dates. This article is based on announced squads and draw-result context only. Detailed tactical breakdowns will follow in a separate article.
Group L at a Glance
| Country | Confederation | Pot | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | UEFA | 1 | 17th |
| Croatia | UEFA | 2 | 7th |
| Ghana | CAF | 3 | 5th (5 in a row) |
| Panama | CONCACAF | 4 | 2nd (first since 2018) |
England enter as the Pot 1 favourites. Croatia bring their golden generation’s final act. Ghana arrive with a Premier League/Serie A/La Liga-loaded attack, while Panama rely on CONCACAF-hardened organisation and veteran leadership.
Match Schedule
| Date & Time (UTC) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 20:00 | England vs Croatia | Dallas Stadium (Arlington, TX) |
| Jun 17, 23:00 | Ghana vs Panama | Toronto Stadium (Toronto, Canada) |
| Jun 23, 20:00 | England vs Ghana | Boston Stadium (Foxborough, MA) |
| Jun 23, 23:00 | Panama vs Croatia | Toronto Stadium (Toronto, Canada) |
| Jun 27, 21:00 | Croatia vs Ghana | Philadelphia Stadium (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Jun 27, 21:00 | Panama vs England | New York New Jersey Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) |
The two final-matchday games kick off simultaneously (21:00 UTC). Panama and Croatia both play two matches in Toronto.
Team-by-Team
England — Pot 1 favourites chasing a first title since 1966
Thomas Tuchel, appointed in January 2025 fresh from his Champions League record with Chelsea, takes charge of his first World Cup with England. The squad was announced on May 22, 2026.
Captain Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) leads at his third World Cup — England’s all-time top scorer with 73 international goals, equalling Billy Wright’s record for most appearances as England captain. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) form the attacking spine of Tuchel’s preferred 4-2-3-1, with Declan Rice (Arsenal) and Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) as the double pivot.
The selection made headlines for bold calls: Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were left out, while Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli) earned a recall after a prolific Saudi Pro League season. Jordan Henderson (Brentford) is in for a record-equalling fourth World Cup. Reece James (Chelsea) and Marc Guéhi (Manchester City) anchor the defence.
England have reached the quarter-finals at each of the past two World Cups — 2018 and 2022 both ended at that stage. Going deeper, and ultimately reaching a first final since 1966, is the ambition.
Croatia — The Modrić generation’s final dance
Zlatko Dalić, in charge since 2017, named his 26-man squad on May 18, 2026. The defining figure remains Luka Modrić (AC Milan), 40 years old and still playing, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner with 196 caps and 28 international goals. Perišić (37, PSV), Kramarić (Hoffenheim) and Kovačić (Manchester City) are the other survivors of the 2018 runners-up squad — the youngest new face is 19-year-old centre-back Luka Vušković (Hamburger SV), creating a 21-year age span.
The defensive cornerstone is Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), 24, whose left-CB emergence at Qatar 2022 catapulted him to world-class status. The midfield triangle of Modrić/Kovačić/Pašalić is intact. Eight Serie A-based players make up the largest single-league bloc, with Modrić’s move to AC Milan a defining symbol of the squad’s Italian flavour.
Croatia’s World Cup record since gaining independence is remarkable: third in 1998, runners-up in 2018, third again in 2022. This may be Modrić’s last tournament, and the nation arrives with genuine belief that the generation can add one more act.
Ghana — The Black Stars bring a Premier League-loaded attack
Head coach Carlos Queiroz (Portuguese, aged 72, appointed 2024) finalised Ghana’s 26 on June 2, 2026. This is Ghana’s fifth consecutive World Cup, fifth overall — and the historic target is to exceed the 2010 South Africa quarter-final, which remains the best-ever finish by an African nation (tied).
The attacking spine is headlined by captain Jordan Ayew (Leicester City) — 117 caps, 33 goals, son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele — alongside Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), who joined for £85 million from Bournemouth in summer 2025, and Iñaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), who made the unusual switch from Spain to Ghana in 2023. Midfield is anchored by Thomas Partey (Villarreal), an ex-Arsenal FA Cup winner and former La Liga champion at Atlético Madrid.
After three straight losses at Qatar 2022, the goal is a first Round of 16 appearance since 2010.
Previous World Cup record:
- 2006 (Germany): Round of 16
- 2010 (South Africa): Quarter-finals
- 2014 (Brazil): Group stage
- 2022 (Qatar): Group stage
Panama — Second-ever World Cup, chasing a first win
Thomas Christiansen (Spanish/Danish, appointed 2020) announced Panama’s 26-man squad on May 26, 2026. This is Panama’s second World Cup appearance — their first since Russia 2018. Captain Aníbal Godoy (San Diego FC), 35, leads the squad with an all-time record 159 caps; right-back Michael Amir Murillo (Beşiktaş) adds 91 caps and Marseille/Anderlecht European experience.
The preferred system is a 4-2-3-1 with Godoy and Adalberto Carrasquilla (UNAM) as the pivot. The attack revolves around Yoel Bárcenas (Mazatlán, 101 caps) as the No.10, with José Fajardo or Ismael Díaz (León, 54 caps and 17 goals) leading the line. The squad is heavily Liga MX-based, blended with MLS experience and a handful of lower-tier European players.
At Russia 2018, Panama lost all three group games — including a 1-6 defeat to England and 1-3 to Belgium. Securing a first-ever World Cup win, and advancing past the group stage for the first time, are the twin targets.
Head-to-Head History
| Matchup | Highlights |
|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | Croatia beat England 2-1 in the 2018 World Cup semi-final (AET). England won 1-0 in the EURO 2020/21 group stage |
| England vs Ghana | England won in friendlies in 2010 and 2022. Ghana’s overall record vs England is narrow |
| England vs Panama | England beat Panama 6-1 at Russia 2018 — the heaviest defeat in Panama’s World Cup history |
| Croatia vs Ghana | Croatia won 1-0 at the 2010 World Cup; 4-0 at the 2014 World Cup |
| Croatia vs Panama | No World Cup meeting, limited competitive history |
| Ghana vs Panama | Minimal competitive history |
The England-Croatia opener is the headline fixture, carrying echoes of the 2018 semi-final. Their direct history is closely contested at the biggest stages. Panama have never beaten any of their three group opponents in a competitive fixture.
Path to the Knockouts
On pot seedings, England and Croatia are the most likely 1st and 2nd-place finishers. But:
- Croatia’s big-game experience and the Modrić axis at 40 remain a genuine force
- Ghana’s combination of pace, physicality and European-league finishing power can trouble either of the top two
- Panama’s disciplined structure and veteran leadership — Godoy (159 caps), Murillo (91 caps), Bárcenas (101 caps) — make them more difficult to break down than their pot suggests
With the 48-team format’s third-place qualifying spots (8 of 12 third-placed teams advance), Ghana and even Panama retain realistic advancement scenarios depending on results.
Summary
- The England-Croatia opener is one of the most anticipated group-stage matches in the draw — a rematch carrying 2018 history on both sides
- Croatia’s experience and Ghana’s attacking quality complicate what looks like a straightforward group on paper
- Venues are spread across the US East Coast and Toronto — June heat and humidity are factors for conditioning
- A detailed squad-by-squad breakdown with formation predictions will follow once all 26-man rosters are confirmed