Group L
Group L features England and Croatia — the 2018 World Cup final teams — alongside Ghana and Panama. Get AI-powered win probability and match analysis for every Group L fixture.
Group L brings together two nations who contested the 2018 World Cup final — England (semi-finalists) and Croatia (runners-up) — in what promises to be the most historically loaded group in the tournament. England enter 2026 with one of their most talented squads in decades, loaded with Premier League stars and with genuine ambitions of winning their first World Cup since 1966. Croatia, despite an ageing squad, remain technically excellent.
Ghana bring the entertainment and resilience that has made them one of Africa's most watchable World Cup teams — they famously reached the quarter-finals in 2010. Panama are CONCACAF qualifiers who make up the numbers but will compete fiercely. England are clear Group L favourites, with Croatia expected to battle for second place.
England's current squad generation has the quality to challenge for a World Cup title — Premier League-proven players across every position, a clear tactical system and tournament experience from reaching the 2018 semi-final and 2020 Euro final (lost on penalties). 2026 may be the best opportunity this generation gets to win England's first major title in 60 years.
Croatia were 2018 World Cup runners-up in one of the tournament's most extraordinary stories — winning multiple matches via extra time and penalties. Their core of technical midfielders are ageing by 2026, but Croatia remain incredibly well-organised and hard to beat. They should be competitive enough to claim second place and reach the knockout stage.
England are strong favourites to win Group L. With one of the best squads in the tournament and home continent advantage playing in North America (with significant English fan support), England are expected to advance as group winners. The Croatia rematch adds extra motivation — England will want to avenge their 2018 semi-final defeat.
England's current squad is genuinely capable of reaching the World Cup final. With Premier League-experienced players across all positions and a settled tactical system, England are a realistic semi-final or final contender. Their 2018 run to the semi-final showed the team can handle tournament pressure — 2026 is the opportunity to go one step further.
Croatia's 2018 World Cup final run was driven by Luka Modrić and a generation of technically brilliant midfielders. By 2026, that core is significantly older but Croatian football continues to produce technically gifted players. A rebuilt Croatian squad retains the tactical intelligence and competitive resilience that makes them dangerous — second place in Group L is a realistic target.