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England and Croatia Learn Their Round of 32 Opponents for the 2026 World Cup

Збірні Англії та Хорватії дізналися суперників у 1/32 фіналу Чемпіонату світу 2026 року. Photo: Главком

Group L Final Standings at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Group L action at the 2026 World Cup has wrapped up, featuring England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The final group table is now set, along with each team’s knockout-stage opponent. Across all four sides, a total of 13 goals were scored, highlighting an attacking style of play throughout the group.

Matchday 2 saw Croatia edge Panama by a single goal. Heading into the final round of group matches, Croatia sat in third place, trailing Ghana. A draw between Ghana and England further reshuffled the standings. In the decisive third matchday, Croatia defeated Ghana 2–1, while England beat Panama 2–0 to secure top spot in the group.

Knockout Stage Outlook

The final Group L standings have set the stage for the next phase of the tournament. England will face the third-place finisher from either Group I (Senegal), Group J (Algeria), or Group K (DR Congo) in the round of 32. Croatia’s first knockout match will be against the runner-up from Group K, which could be either Colombia or Portugal. Meanwhile, Ghana will take on the Group K winner, currently a contest between Portugal and Colombia—with Colombia holding the edge in wins.

With the group stage complete, all four teams now turn their attention to the knockout rounds, where every match is a must-win. This is a critical moment in the tournament, as a single loss means elimination. Each side will look to bring its best performance to advance on the global stage.

As the tournament progresses, the intense rivalry between England and Croatia continues to unfold. Their recent clash set the tone for the competition, showcasing both teams' strengths. For a detailed recap of how England dominated Croatia in their opening match, check out this article on England's impressive victory, which adds context to their upcoming knockout stage challenges.