Group L
Four teams. Six matches. Two tickets to the playoff stage.
Standings
Schedule
Welcome to the Group L fan page — your home for England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The four teams play a round-robin from June 11 to June 27, with the top two qualifying directly for the Round of 32. Group L matches are spread across United States, Canada. Open the schedule below for kickoff times and stadiums, or read on for storylines, qualification scenarios and key fixtures to watch.
England vs Croatia — a semi-final rematch
England's quest for World Cup #2
Group L pairs England with Croatia in a heavyweight opener on June 17 at Dallas Stadium — a rematch of their 2018 semi-final. England's only previous World Cup title remains 1966; with talented Premier League stars in every position, expectations on the Three Lions have rarely been higher. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden anchor the squad.
Croatia, Ghana and Panama
Croatia have reached the past two World Cup knockout rounds — silver in 2018, bronze in 2022 — despite limited squad resources. Their ability to grind out results and play 120 minutes under pressure makes them serious top-two contenders again. Ghana return to the World Cup looking to rebuild after a difficult 2022 group. Panama reach their second World Cup, playing without pressure.
Matches
All six Group L matches are listed above as clickable preview cards. Each card opens to a match page with information about both teams, predicted lineups and venue details. Group L opens with England vs Croatia at Dallas Stadium on JUN 17 — a fixture worth circling on your calendar.
Matches Today
Today's Group L fixture (if any) will be highlighted on this page once the tournament begins on June 11, 2026. If no Group L match is taking place today, the section shows the next scheduled fixture.
Standings
The Group L standings table is shown at the top of this page. After each matchday, it updates with games played, wins, draws, losses, goals scored, goals conceded, goal difference and points. Position determines qualification: top two go through directly; third-placed teams compete for the best-third slots.
Tie-breakers — what to watch for
Goal difference is the first tie-breaker, so the margin of victory matters from matchday 1. If teams remain level, then goals scored, then head-to-head, then disciplinary points, and finally a FIFA-ranking draw. Don't be surprised if a goal in the dying minutes decides who advances.
Results
Group L results are added to this page after the final whistle of every match. The standings table refreshes within minutes. Match cards update from scheduled to final score with a link to the post-match summary and the match preview page.
Match Schedule
All six Group L fixtures are listed in chronological order above. Group L plays three matchdays between June 11 and June 27, with both matchday-3 fixtures kicking off simultaneously — a FIFA rule to prevent collusion. For the full chronological view of all 72 group-stage fixtures, see the group stage schedule.
Where to follow the schedule
For an even broader view, the full World Cup 2026 match schedule lists all 104 tournament fixtures in date order. Use the host country filters if you want to focus on matches in a specific nation.
Match Chart
After Group L plays its final round, the standings determine the bracket flow: group winner goes to one side of the playoff bracket, runner-up to the other, and the third-placed team competes with the eleven other third-placed teams for one of eight knockout slots.
Match List
Each match card above shows the date, local kickoff time, both teams' flags, host stadium and host city. Click any card for the match preview with team info, predicted lineups and stadium details. For the chronological full-group list, see the Group L schedule page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I watch Group L matches live?
All Group L fixtures are listed above with kickoff times in the local time of the host city. Convert to your time zone, then check your local broadcaster for World Cup 2026 coverage.
Which teams are in Group L?
Group L features England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama. Each team has its own page with full squad context, opponents and key players. Click any team name in the standings table for more.
How can a team in Group L reach the Round of 32?
Top two finish directly. Third-placed team can still advance if it's among the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups. The eight-best system uses points, goal difference, then goals scored to rank.
Where can I follow Group L live updates?
This page updates after every Group L matchday — standings, results and qualification scenarios. Each match card links to the preview and post-match summary.
Why is England vs Croatia such a notable fixture?
It is a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra time to reach the final. England seek revenge in their Group L opener at Dallas Stadium on June 17, 2026 — the first day of group play for both nations.