Group L is a section built around one of the more compelling football storylines of the 2026 World Cup: England, statistically the best defensive side in the tournament, meeting a Croatian team that has played in two consecutive major finals and refuses to accept that its time has passed. Below them, Ghana under emergency appointment Carlos Queiroz are capable of an upset, and Panama โ in just their second-ever World Cup โ are the story of how six years of work can rewrite a football nation's place in the game.
England: the best defensive team in the tournament?
The numbers are striking. England kept nine clean sheets in ten matches in 2025, including all eight of their UEFA World Cup qualifiers. They conceded just 2.1 expected goals across that entire qualifying campaign โ the best defensive figure posted by any team in European qualification. This is not a defensive England by accident; it is a structural philosophy that the coaching staff have spent years building and refining.
At the other end, Jude Bellingham carries the creative burden and carries it well. Still only 22, he has evolved from a high-energy midfield runner into a match-winner capable of deciding games by himself in the biggest moments. Phil Foden's movement and Harry Kane's positioning give England attacking options at the highest level. Opta's simulations placed England as the third likeliest team to top their group in the entire tournament โ a measure of how well-rounded this squad is.
Croatia: one last dance for a golden generation
Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final. Croatia reached the 2022 semifinal. This is the same generation โ older now, with Luka Modriฤ entering the final phase of a career that has defied every timeline written for it โ arriving at one last genuine attempt to lift the trophy they have been closer to than any Croatian side in history.
Modriฤ remains extraordinary. What he does with a ball in tight spaces and his ability to control tempo in high-pressure matches is still among the most valuable skill sets in the game. The Croatian model has never depended on him alone, though. Their collective press is organised, their wide players can cut inside and create from central areas, and they have a particular talent for winning close games in knock-out situations. Opta gives them a 76.9% probability of reaching the knockout rounds โ high enough to expect qualification, not enough to call it settled before a ball is kicked.
Ghana: Queiroz steps in for a turnaround
Ghana arrive at this tournament in a state of transition. Manager Otto Addo was sacked in March following a 5-1 loss to Austria and a 2-1 defeat to Germany in back-to-back friendlies, with the World Cup only weeks away. Carlos Queiroz was the emergency appointment โ a manager who has taken national teams to four previous World Cups across three continents and understands the demands of tournament football better than almost anyone currently in the job.
Ghana's individual talent is real and undeniable; they qualified for a reason. Players like Jordan Ayew understand pressure and big-match occasions. But asking Queiroz to rebuild cohesion and tactical identity in weeks, while facing England and Croatia in the group, is a steep task. Their 49% qualification probability โ nearly coin-flip territory โ reflects how evenly matched they are with Croatia for second.
Panama: football's great underdog arc
Panama's journey from 81st in the FIFA world rankings to 33rd over six years under Thomas Christiansen is one of the most quietly impressive managerial projects in international football. Their 2018 World Cup debut ended with three losses, but they scored their first-ever World Cup goal and celebrated it with the kind of joy that reminded everyone watching why the tournament matters at all.
Their 2026 squad is more experienced and better prepared. They handle the physical demands of a World Cup group stage better than the first generation did, and the 2018 run gave the entire nation a reference point for what they are capable of. A 40% qualification probability does not make them favourites, but it does not make them token opponents either. In a group where Croatia and Ghana are separated by fractional probability margins, Panama's matches could prove pivotal to the section's final shape.
Group L fixtures: dates and venues
- England vs Croatia โ June 17, AT&T Stadium, Dallas, TX
- Ghana vs Panama โ June 17, BMO Field, Toronto, ON
- England vs Ghana โ June 23, Gillette Stadium, Boston, MA
- Panama vs Croatia โ June 23, BMO Field, Toronto, ON
- Panama vs England โ June 27, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- Croatia vs Ghana โ June 27, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
The June 17 opener between England and Croatia is the match to circle. It effectively sets the tone for the entire group. If Croatia beat England here, the dynamics of the section shift dramatically โ with Ghana and Panama's paths suddenly opening up.
FAQ
Will this be Luka Modriฤ's last World Cup? Almost certainly yes. He would be 44 before the 2030 edition. This is the final chapter of a career that produced a Ballon d'Or, a Champions League, and took Croatia to places nobody thought possible.
Why was Ghana's manager changed so close to the tournament? Poor friendly results in March 2026 โ including a 5-1 loss to Austria โ prompted the GFA to act immediately. Carlos Queiroz accepted the role, bringing four World Cups of prior experience to the job.
Has Panama ever won a World Cup match? No. Both previous appearances ended without a victory. This squad enters with real ambition to change that record.
Where can I follow Group L live? All Group L fixtures run live on Scorelisto's soccer live scores page. The Scorelisto blog will carry daily recaps and standings updates throughout the group stage.