World Cup 2026 — Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana & Panama
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has placed Ghana national football team in Group L alongside England national football team, Croatia national football team and Panama national football team. Ghana will kick off their campaign on June 17 against Panama, before later facing England and Croatia.
🏴 England
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England entered the tournament with a perfect qualifying record, winning all eight of their matches to clinch a spot at their eighth straight World Cup.
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For 2026, they are led by new head coach Thomas Tuchel, marking his first major tournament in charge.
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The squad features attacking talents such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice — though some analysts note the defence looks somewhat thin.
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Stats: FIFA world ranking of 4th; Regionally (UEFA) 3rd; one World Cup title; 16 appearances (last in Qatar 2022).
🇭🇷 Croatia
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Croatia have just missed out on the top seed pot, and will look to make a strong showing — especially as it might be the final major tournament for veteran captain Luka Modrić.
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Under long-serving coach Zlatko Dalić (in charge since 2017), Croatia has become a consistent force on the international stage. His track record includes reaching two World Cup semifinals and a final, among other achievements.
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While they may lack star depth beyond Modrić’s class, Croatia’s strength lies in cohesive teamwork and a strong tradition through their youth systems in clubs like Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split. Players such as Joško Gvardiol and Ivan Perišić add quality to the squad.
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Stats: FIFA ranking 10th; UEFA regional ranking 8th; no World Cup titles; qualified for 2026 by topping UEFA Group L (7W-1D-0L); last appearance: Qatar 2022 (their 6th as independent nation).
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Notably, Croatia bested England in the 2018 World Cup — eliminating them in the semifinals after extra time.
🇵🇦 Panama
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For Panama, 2026 will be only their second appearance at the World Cup. They secured qualification by topping their CONCACAF group, benefiting in part from automatic qualification of regional powerhouses USA, Canada, and Mexico.
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Their 2018 campaign — their first-ever World Cup — ended at the group stage, so progression beyond that would already be seen as progress. The current squad is relatively veteran, with several key players now in their mid-30s. Still, under coach Thomas Christiansen, Panama aims to be a tough competitor.
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Stats: FIFA ranking 30th; 4th in CONCACAF; no World Cup titles; last appearance: 2018.
🇬🇭 Ghana
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Ghana have qualified for five of the last six World Cups, showing consistency on the African continent. Their recent World Cup performances have seen group-stage exits, including just one win across the last two tournaments.
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While this generation might not match the star-power of past eras (players like Michael Essien or Kevin-Prince Boateng), the squad under coach Otto Addo brings promise. Key players include Mohammed Kudus, Iñaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo.
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Stats: FIFA ranking 72nd; CAF regional ranking 14th; no World Cup titles; last appearance: Qatar 2022. They qualified through CAF Group I with a record of 8W-1L-1D.
📊 What Group L Means & Tournament Route
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The winner of Group L advances to face one of the best third-placed teams from Groups E, H, I, J, or K in the Round of 32.
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The runner-up will meet the runner-up of Group K.
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If the third-placed team from Group L qualifies (as one of eight best third-placed teams), they are likely to face the winner of Group K.
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